Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/27/2026
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Heat President Pat Riley Has No Plans To Step Down
A defiant Heat president Pat Riley says he isn’t going anywhere. Riley declared early in his annual postseason press conference, which lasted 67 minutes, that he has no plans to step down, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press reports (Twitter link).
“I’m not going to retire. I’m not going to resign,” the 81-year-old Riley said. “I’m not going to step aside. … I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference on the Imagination, period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It may come. It may not.”
Riley joined the organization in 1995 as head coach and president. He stepped down from his coaching duties in 2008.
“I love what I’m doing. I love the people I am working with. I love competition,” he said. “I love this franchise. Don’t think I haven’t thought about [retiring]. I’m at 81 years old. I’m aging up. Micky or Nick [Arison] will decide whether I age out.”
Riley addressed a wide range of topics during his lengthy presser. Here are some of the highlights, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
- On being stuck in mediocrity: He continues to refuse to pursue a tanking strategy or major rebuild. “It’s simply the same thing we did the last three seasons. We tried, more than you even know, to get better. We’re at a period right now where you don’t make radical changes right now. We’re not going to tank and do that insanity. I will quit if I get ordered to go down that road.”
- On assets: Riley says he’ll be aggressive in trying to upgrade the roster this offseason, using his available assets. The biggest are a $16MM exception from the Duncan Robinson trade and a $15.1MM non-taxpayer midlevel exception. “I’m encouraged where we are with the flexibility and the players that are out there that we know are available that we can pursue.”
- On Bam Adebayo: Riley said his star center “deserves more help” and that he’s off limits in trade discussions. “I want to build this around Bam,” he said.
- He hinted that it’s not likely Tyler Herro will get an extension this offseason. Riley indicated he would speak with Herro’s agent but “we have to show a level of discipline in extending guys out.” Two of his top forwards, Andrew Wiggins ($30MM player option) and Norman Powell (free agent), told him they want to return.
- Along with an elite scorer, Riley wants to improve the team’s overall length. “We will address that.” However, Riley doesn’t want to saddle his salary cap with a risky trade or signing. “I’m not going to make a stupid move that’s going to saddle us for years to come and will have to pay to get out from under.”
- Regarding Herro, he will have a minor procedure on his foot this week, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald tweets. Riley expects Herro to be back on the court in July, Chiang adds in another tweet.
- Riley wasn’t happy that the Heat only received a second-round pick from the Hornets as compensation for not getting full disclosure in the Terry Rozier trade, Clutch Points Zachary Weinberger tweets. “I didn’t negotiate that deal. The NBA did. But my point is, is that was handled pretty much by the league…[The Rozier situation] was not a very good situation. There’s no doubt.”
Anthony Edwards Considered ‘Week To Week’ After MRI
Anthony Edwards‘ left knee injury is considered a week-to-week issue, according to a press release from the Timberwolves (Twitter link via Chris Hine of The Star Tribune). An MRI conducted at the Mayo Clinic revealed a left knee hyperextension injury and bone bruise.
The team’s announcement represents confirmation of an ESPN report that stated Edwards would be sidelined multiple weeks. Minnesota leads its first-round series against the Nuggets, 3-1.
The Timberwolves’ superstar guard sustained the injury late in the second quarter of Game 4 (Twitter video link via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). Edwards jumped to contest a layup by Cameron Johnson, and Johnson’s forward momentum caused Edwards to move backward in the air. Edwards landed awkwardly and his left knee buckled. He immediately grabbed at his knee on the ground.
Edwards entered the playoffs dealing with a nagging right knee injury, which caused him to miss extended time at the end of the regular season. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks through four playoff games, but struggled with efficiency, posting a shooting slash line of .358/.258/.857.
Minnesota’s other starting guard, Donte DiVincenzo, suffered a torn right Achilles tendon early in the first quarter of Saturday’s win. Without DiVincenzo and Edwards, the Timberwolves will have to rely on breakout star Ayo Dosunmu along with Mike Conley, Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon Jr. for the remainder of its first-round series vs. Denver.
If the Wolves advance, Edwards figures to push hard to try to return at some point in the second round, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Rajon Rondo Under Consideration In Pelicans’ Head Coaching Search
12:34 pm: Hetzel has also been interviewed for the Pelicans’ head coaching job, Will Guillory of The Athletic tweets.
11:00 am: Rajon Rondo is among the candidates the Pelicans are considering as they look for their next head coach, with league sources telling Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) that he has already interviewed for the position.
The former All-Star guard was hired in 2024 as a special assistant on Doc Rivers’ staff in Milwaukee. Fischer and Stein note that he first expressed interest in coaching when he was with Boston early in his career, and Brad Stevens brought Rondo into some staff meetings while he was recovering from a torn ACL. Rondo spent 16 seasons in the NBA before his career ended in 2022.
Fischer and Stein hear that the Pelicans have reached out to several candidates, including Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, Bucks associate head coach Darvin Ham and Nets assistant Steve Hetzel. Ham has also been mentioned as a potential replacement for the Magic if they decide to fire Jamahl Mosley.
In addition, the Pelicans have requested permission to interview Pistons assistant Jarrett Jack, according to Fischer and Stein’s sources. Jack played in New Orleans for three seasons of his career and moved on to coaching after his retirement in 2021. He spent two years on the staff in Phoenix before being hired by Detroit.
James Borrego, who took over as the Pelicans’ interim coach when Willie Green was fired in mid-November, remains “very much under consideration” to get the job on a permanent basis, sources tell Fischer and Stein. Borrego, who joined the organization as associate head coach in 2024, guided the team to a 24-46 record after replacing Green.
Pistons Notes: Duren, Cunningham, Game 4, Magic Johnson, Huerter
All-Star center Jalen Duren, a restricted free agent after the season, is taking a lot of heat for his playoff performances against the Magic. He’s averaging 9.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.7 turnovers per game as the Pistons head into Game 4 down 2-1 in the series. Duren has been badly outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr. and was even benched for a stretch during the second half of Game 3.
However, the team remains highly supportive of Duren and expects him to bounce back.
“These last three games haven’t went the way he wants, or we might want for him,” Cade Cunningham said, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. “But I, and the whole team, have no doubt that he’s going to figure it out. He knows he’s going to figure it out. So I’m excited for next game for him to plant his foot into this series.”
Positive reinforcement is the right approach, according to forward Ausar Thompson.
“Just be there for him, you know?” Thompson said. “Encourage him, feed him the ball and give him some space to work. I just want him to keep being aggressive, that’s it. We’re good, we’re not worried about him.”
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Cunningham is averaging a whopping 6.3 turnovers per game in the series, including nine in Game 3 — equaling his assist total. Cunningham knows he has to cut down on the mistakes to prevent the Eastern Conference’s top seed from getting bounced in the first round, Coty Davis of the Detroit News writes. “It’s a possession game in the playoffs, and a lot of this falls on my shoulders where I have to be better,” Cunningham said. “I have to make sure I am doing a good job of getting the ball out to my guys to make sure they can make plays. We have had too many empty possessions where we are giving the ball back to them. Again, that’s on me.”
- The pressure is on the Pistons to win on Monday and even the series. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff expects his team to wrest control back from the Magic. “It’s one game at a time, and that’s what playoff series are. You can’t hang on to it. We come down here, we win on Monday — we take home court advantage back,” Bickerstaff said, per Davis. “Our guys have been consistent all year, and we’ve been able to move on to the next. So, I trust our guys. We’ll be ready to go.”
- Magic Johnson, a Michigan native, wrote on Twitter the Pistons must regain their identity or risk an embarrassing playoff outcome. “The Detroit Pistons better get their swagger back on the defensive end or else they are going to lose this series against the Orlando Magic,” he said.
- Reserve guard Kevin Huerter participated in Monday morning’s shootaround but remains listed as questionable for Game 4, Davis tweets. He’s dealing with left hip soreness.
Amick’s Latest: Lottery Reform, Mosley, Lakers, Wolves, More
A “heavy frontrunner” has emerged as the NBA considers its options to reduce tanking, league and team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.
In March, the league presented three separate lottery reform concepts to its governors to address the problem. It appears option No. 1, which expands the draft lottery to 18 teams from the current 14, has received the best reception, according to Amick. The proposal would give each of the bottom 10 teams an 8% chance of landing the top overall pick, and the remaining 20% would be distributed among the other eight. It’s a significant change from the current system, which provides the three worst teams with a 14% chance at the No. 1 selection, with the odds steadily declining for the rest.
Several general managers that Amick contacted point out that option No. 1 could result in new problems that should be addressed before a vote is taken. There could be an outcry if one of the four lottery teams that reaches the playoffs winds up winning the top overall selection. Although the odds of that happening are slim, the huge jumps taken by Atlanta, Dallas and other teams in the last two lotteries show that it’s possible.
The next step in the process will take place on Tuesday with a league-wide meeting of GMs on Zoom. Draft reform won’t be the only topic of discussion, but it will be the main issue, Amick adds. He hears that commissioner Adam Silver is taking a “collaborative approach,” welcoming extensive feedback, with the league’s competition committee taking the lead and representatives from the players union also involved.
A vote on reform is expected at the next Board of Governors meeting in May, and at least 23 of the 30 teams must approve the proposal for it to be adopted. Silver stated in February that he hopes to have a new system in place by next season.
There’s more from Amick:
- Orlando’s playoff success may be complicating a few expected coaching moves. Amick notes that rumors about Jamahl Mosley being on the hot seat have been circulating since October, and they intensified when the Magic lost their final regular season game and their first play-in contest. Former Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and Bucks associate head coach Darvin Ham were seen as potential replacements, and Mosley was viewed as a possible candidate for the Pelicans. However, Orlando holds a 2-1 lead in its series with top-seeded Detroit, and Amick believes Mosley is worthy of a “second look” from Magic officials if he can get the team to at least the second round.
- Amick addresses a few other coaching situations, including Tiago Splitter‘s unique position with the Trail Blazers and Mike Brown‘s Finals-or-bust mandate with the Knicks. Amick also believes pressure has increased on the Sixers’ Nick Nurse and the Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson following Sunday’s playoff losses.
- The Lakers and Timberwolves have experienced terrible injury luck, with L.A. losing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves before its series started and Minnesota seeing Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards both suffer significant injuries in Saturday’s game. Amick praises the foresight of the Lakers’ Rob Pelinka and the Wolves’ Tim Connelly for adding depth that gives their teams a chance to survive those losses. Pelinka signed Marcus Smart last summer following a buyout with Washington, then acquired Luke Kennard from Atlanta in February. Connelly made possibly the best deal at this year’s deadline, getting Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago in exchange for two little-used players and a package of second-round picks.
Victor Wembanyama Calls NBA’s Handling Of Concussion Protocol ‘Disappointing’
After a dominant performance in the Spurs‘ Game 4 victory at Portland on Sunday, Victor Wembanyama expressed disappointment about not being cleared from concussion protocol ahead of Game 3, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
The French star received clearance from San Antonio’s medical staff and sought league approval ahead of Friday’s contest, according to Weiss. When he was turned down by the director of the NBA’s concussion program, Wembanyama asked for an examination by an independent neurologist. He participated in an interview regarding his symptoms and told the neurologist that he felt fine to play, a source tells Weiss, but the league refused to grant clearance.
Wembanyama addressed the situation after Sunday’s game, saying he never received a firm reason for why he wasn’t permitted to play in Game 3.
“I’m not saying that not playing was a good or bad decision,” he told reporters. “It was a decision. I’m not saying it was good or bad. But the way the situation was handled, very disappointing.”
Wembanyama refused to go into detail about why he’s unhappy with how the league handled the situation, saying he doesn’t want it to become a distraction and he’ll address it further after the playoffs end. He added that he was satisfied with how medical personnel from both the team and the league conducted the process.
“The doctors all around, they were great. Took great care of me,” Wembanyama said. “But the way the situation was handled was very disappointing.”
Weiss notes that Wembanyama has built a reputation during his three NBA seasons for being “abundantly confident” in the way he takes care of himself and often argues that he’s able to play when the Spurs’ medical staff determines otherwise. Wembanyama said that being in concussion protocol didn’t affect his preparation for Sunday’s game.
“I’ve been feeling great,” he added. “Even conditioning-wise, I did some cardio two days ago, so I’m fine.”
Wembanyama suffered the concussion when he took a hard fall in the second quarter of Tuesday’s Game 2 and struck his chin on the court. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game, and Portland picked up its only victory so far in the series.
Wembanyama didn’t seem to be affected by any lingering symptoms on Sunday as he posted 27 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals in 34 minutes. The Spurs overcame a 19-point deficit late in the first half and wound up winning by 21 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Weiss notes that Wembanyama was knocked to the court a few times on Sunday, but coach Mitch Johnson was never worried about his condition.
“I didn’t, to be honest. I’ve learned to trust that young man,” Johnson said. “I think the challenge now is for him to continue to play the way he did in the second half for the whole game. When he does that, we’ll be tough. But if he doesn’t do that, there’s a ripple effect for our team. That’s the responsibility that comes with being the face of the franchise and the best player.”
Lakers-Rockets Notes: LeBron, Ayton, Reaves, Durant, Doncic, Sengun
The Lakers had a chance on Sunday night to become the first team to wrap up a playoff series, but the Rockets avoided a sweep with a 115-96 win on their home court. The game featured an uncharacteristically bad performance from LeBron James, who finished with eight turnovers and 10 points while shooting 2-of-9 from the field, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. James took responsibility for the loss, telling reporters, “It started with me, obviously. My turnovers were unacceptable.”
L.A. lost starting center Deandre Ayton when he was assessed a flagrant foul 2 for hitting Alperen Sengun in the side of the head with his forearm with 5:41 left in the third quarter. It was originally ruled a common foul before being upgraded following a video review, and McMenamin notes that players from both teams disagreed with the decision.
“We both are sweaty guys,” Ayton explained. “[My arm] just slipped off his shoulder. … I’m not no guy who is a dirty player or who plays like that.”
“I don’t want to make the officials crazy, but I mean, I didn’t expect them to eject him to be honest,” Sengun said. “I think it was a little bit soft. … I guess it is what it is, they called it. I’m glad they called it. So, we go from there.”
The game became heated from there with five more technicals being called – three on the Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero and two on the Rockets’ Josh Okogie and Aaron Holiday. Thiero and Holiday were both ejected with 1:11 left to play for an ongoing verbal exchange. The trash talk continued after the final buzzer, with several Lakers telling McMenamin that Rockets wing Jae’Sean Tate taunted them and challenged Kleber to a fight.
There’s more on the series:
- Game 5 is set for Wednesday night, and the series could be determined by which stars are able to return. L.A.’s Austin Reaves was listed as questionable for the second straight game while recovering from a Grade 2 left oblique strain, McMenamin adds, but wasn’t used on Sunday. Houston’s Kevin Durant missed his third game of the series, and the second with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle. Coach Ime Udoka said there’s still a chance that Durant could return at some point in the series, per Will Guillory of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- In a pregame session with reporters, Lakers coach JJ Redick said Luka Doncic is still in the early stages of working his way back from a left hamstring strain, relays Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “He just continues to do some stuff on the court,” Redick said. “He was able to move today a little bit on the court. Most of the stuff has been standstill. He’s progressing. No update on any timeline or anything like that.”
- With the Rockets in a 3-0 hole, Sengun provided some inspiration with a fiery speech during a players-only talk during Sunday morning’s shootaround, Matt Young of The Houston Chronicle states in a subscriber-only story. Sengun relied on an interpreter when he came to the NBA from Turkey five years ago, but he has become confident in his English skills. “It’s hard, man. It’s hard to talk another language, but I try every day. I don’t give a … if you know what I’m saying,” he said. “At the end of the day, they understand me and I’m happy with that.”
Knicks Notes: Towns, Hart, Brunson, McBride
The Knicks struggled to put four straight quarters of high-level offense together in Games 2 and 3 of their series against the Hawks. In Game 4, they turned to Karl-Anthony Towns as the lead man, and it may have saved their season, Kristian Winfield writes for the New York Daily News. The Knicks have had issues getting the talented center involved at times, but they made a clear effort to do so on Saturday.
The six-time All-Star had his first playoff triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. His passing from the top of the key opened up the game for the Knicks, as did the off-ball play designs from head coach Mike Brown, which got players like OG Anunoby shot after shot inside, most of which were courtesy of Towns.
“[Towns] is a special talent. He can do it all. And I know if I get open, he’ll find me,” Anunoby said after the game, per Winfield. “No matter how tight the window is, he’ll be able to find it. It’s amazing playing with a player like him.”
Brown said that the decision to play through Towns was a result of being willing to adjust quickly, given the magnitude of the game, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
“We just switched our early offense,” Brown said. “So with us switching our early offense up the way we did, the ball went to his hands quite a bit.”
We have more from the Knicks:
- Josh Hart is best known for his rebounding and hustle plays, but it’s his defensive versatility that has allowed New York to come back and tie their first-round series with the Hawks, Jared Schwartz writes for the New York Post. Hart split his time guarding CJ McCollum, who has been picking apart the Knicks’ defense for much of the series, and Jalen Johnson. He was similarly effective on both players, and his intensity helped set the tone for New York’s perimeter defense, which held the Hawks to 24.4% shooting from deep and converted 19 Atlanta turnovers into 21 points. “Josh was really good on the ball,” Brown said. “Josh is a guy with quick feet, he’s strong and when he gets locked in, he’s locked in. His defensive activity, especially when he [pressures the ball], was fabulous [Saturday night]. Really, really good. And we needed all of it.”
- Another crucial part of the Knicks’ victory was finding a way to keep Jalen Brunson from being a target on defense. On Saturday, Brown was able to do that, Winfield writes. “We mix it up so Jalen is not always on [the ball-handler],” Brown said pregame. “When he is, we got to make sure we continue to mix up our defensive coverages.” Brunson also waved away concerns over the visible disagreement he had with his father, assistant coach Rick Brunson, simply saying, “That was two competitors,” per Schwartz.
- It’s been an inconsistent start to the playoffs for Miles McBride, who is still less than three months removed from undergoing sports hernia surgery. McBride has had some positive moments, especially late in games, but has made just one two-pointer and has yet to attempt a free throw. He’s not making excuses about his injury though, Bondy writes. “I expect a lot out of myself, more than anybody else, honestly. And I try not to listen to how I’m feeling day to day,” he said. “Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter; if I’m supposed to get a stop, I gotta get a stop. If I’m supposed to make a shot, I gotta make a shot. So I try not to think about it. Reality is, I’ve gotta go out there and perform.”
Northwest Notes: Dosunmu, Jokic, Blazers, Jazz
When the Timberwolves traded for Ayo Dosunmu, his upcoming free agency was a lingering question, given how expensive Minnesota’s roster already is. Dosunmu’s playoff performance so far, highlighted by his 43-point outing in the team’s Game 4 victory on Saturday, is only making that conversation more interesting, Joe Cowley writes for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Dosunmu said he recently spoke with recently dismissed Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas and gained closure regarding the trade that sent him to Minnesota. With the Wolves facing a cap crunch, Cowley wonders whether Dosunmu might be interested in a reunion with Chicago. While the guard didn’t close the door on that possibility, he indicated that he’s appreciating the opportunity to compete in the playoffs with his new team and will prioritize Minnesota in free agency.
“Everything is on the table when you’re a free agent,” Dosunmu said. “That’s the main thing about being a free agent — you listen. You have conversations with whoever is interested. I’ll sit down with my family, and you have those conversations about where the next duration of my career will be, but Minnesota has shown me love here. I love the love I’ve been getting from the coaching staff, the fans, the players. So of course Minnesota will have the first dibs to do right and make me feel at home where I won’t even have to go out and entertain (other offers).”
While Saturday’s victory was marred by the emotions of the Wolves losing both Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles tear) and Anthony Edwards (knee hyperextension), Dosunmu’s heroics gave the team the lift it needed to take a commanding series lead, Marcus Thompson II writes for The Athletic.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- The Nuggets know they’ve dug themselves into a hole by going down 3-1 to Minnesota, but star Nikola Jokic is counting on the team’s extensive playoff experience to help them right the ship, Vinny Benedetto writes for the Denver Gazette. “We’ve been in this situation before. The most important one is the next one,” Jokic said. “We’re going to go home and (then) try to get the series back here.” The Nuggets have come back from a 3-1 deficit multiple times during Jokic’s time with the franchise, the first being against Rudy Gobert‘s Jazz back in the bubble in 2020.
- The Trail Blazers have worked hard to return to playoff relevance, and injured star Damian Lillard says the team is closer to taking the next step than people may think, Bill Oram writes for Oregon Live. “It’s all there,” Lillard said. “From the talent to the depth, to having it on both sides of the ball. It’s all there.” While speculation abounds as to whether the three-point champion could return during this postseason run, the front office is also reportedly setting its sights high this offseason, as it is prepared to put a compelling trade offer together for Giannis Antetokounmpo if the two-time MVP indicates he’d be willing to sign an extension in Portland, Oram reports. That is a large “if,” though, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports says, calling the idea of Antetokounmpo making such a promise highly unlikely, if only for the gauntlet he would have to face in the Western Conference playoffs for years to come.
- While the 2026 playoffs rage on, the Jazz are more focused on the draft lottery coming up on May 10. However, there are still reasons for them to pay attention to the postseason, one of which is the draft compensation the Cavaliers still owe them due to the Donovan Mitchell trade, The Deseret News’ Sarah Todd writes. The Cavs are currently tied 2-2 with the Raptors in the first round, with Mitchell eligible for an extension this offseason. While the star guard recently reiterated his desire to stay in Cleveland, a disappointing playoff exit could have ripple effects that impact the Jazz’s future draft assets.