Heat Notes: Spoelstra, Bam, Powell, Fontecchio
While Erik Spoelstra was upset on Tuesday about the “dangerous play” from LaMelo Ball that caused Bam Adebayo to injure his lower back, the Heat‘s head coach was calmer when he was asked about the incident in Thursday’s exit interviews, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
“I’m not really thinking about that anymore,” Spoelstra said Thursday. “I said what I had to say about it. I didn’t think that he needed to be penalized more moving forward. I don’t think that would make sense. I don’t think he’s a dirty player. I just think, at the moment, both things can be true. In that moment, it was a dirty play, a dangerous play. It should have been caught at that moment, but it wasn’t. And then, you move on.”
Adebayo also addressed the play and said he didn’t have any previous history with Ball to suggest there was any “bad blood” between them. An X-ray on the big man’s back came back negative, Chiang writes, and Adebayo hasn’t undergone an MRI to this point.
“Obviously, I’m still walking, so I’m OK,” Adebayo said after walking gingerly, but without any assistance, to the microphone on Thursday.
As for the offseason, Adebayo said questions about potential roster changes should be directed to Spoelstra and president Pat Riley. But the three-time All-Star acknowledged that the team will “probably” look different after missing the playoffs, and Adebayo made it clear where his motivation lies.
“You see how the last four years have been,” Adebayo said. “You can go in and voice that. Everybody in this building knows I want to win. I put on that jersey almost every game through hell and high water just because I want to win. I want to put us in a position to win. When you don’t win, I always put it on myself. That’s me going in the summer trying to be better. Trying to figure out how I can take my game to the next level, how I can be a better captain.
“And the business side is not my side. To me, being able to share my opinion is more important because that means you have somebody actively listening to you. For them to listen is me telling them I want to win. That’s bottom line.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Norman Powell made his first All-Star team in his first season in Miami, but injuries caused him to miss extended time after the break and he only played 19 minutes in Tuesday’s play-in loss to Charlotte, Chiang writes for The Miami Herald. The veteran guard/forward openly expressed a desire to sign an extension with the Heat early in the season, but he was more guarded when he discussed his future with the team on Tuesday. “They have to make decisions and things based on the team and where they want to be and what they want to do next year,” Powell said of the Heat. “Hopefully I’m a part of the plan. And if I am, great. Like I said, I like my time here. So we’ll just see where they’re at, where my agent is at, and what’s going on in free agency.”
- Although Spoelstra was understandably disappointed with an early end to the Heat’s season, he struck an optimistic tone about the development of young players like Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson and Kasparas Jakucionis, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. “There was significant improvement. You saw his ability to compete in a meaningful game and produce in the moments of truth,” Spoelstra said of Ware. “There were a lot of ups and downs this year, but I appreciate his intention every day trying to work at it, get better. And he still has a big offseason ahead to make that next jump hopefully.”
- Simone Fontecchio, who will be a free agent this summer, has already made it known he’d like to re-sign with Miami. The 30-year-old said on Thursday that he likely won’t play with the Italian national team during World Cup qualifying games in July, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, but is hopeful he’ll be able to suit up for games in August once his free agency is resolved.
Warriors Notes: Curry, Green, Horford, Porzingis, Kerr, Payton
Vintage performances from Stephen Curry and Draymond Green sparked the Warriors to a comeback victory in Wednesday’s elimination game against the Clippers, writes Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. As Anthony Slater of ESPN details, Golden State trailed by as many as 13 points with under 10 minutes remaining, but clutch shots from Curry — and clutch defense from Green — led the team to a play-in win.
“We came back every single time they made a run,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “An incredible display of guts and competitiveness and connection. Then obviously Steph and Dray took over down the stretch. Draymond is the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life.”
According to Slater, Green prevented Kawhi Leonard (21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, five turnovers) from attempting a field goal in the 12 half-court possessions he defended the Clippers star in the fourth quarter. Green sealed the victory with two steals in the final minute — one on on inbound pass which led to an and-one for Brandin Podziemski, and the other a clean strip of Leonard when the Clips were down six and desperate to score.
“They had a great game plan,” Leonard said, per Thompson. “Just being physical all game. Making sure I don’t get catch-and-shoot shots. Blasting every pick and roll. … And then, you know, Draymond, Hall of Fame defender. So, yeah, it was hard to even get shots off.”
Green has long relished the chance to compete against — and beat — the best players in the league, notes Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
“There will never be a person that I would want to prove more to than myself,” said Green. “The same people that say I lost a step said I never had a step. They’re the same people that said I would never make it and I should be out the NBA and I ride a coattail. And the list goes on and on. Those are the same people. So ultimately, when you step on the floor, this is competition. You want to be your best.”
Here’s more on the Warriors, who will play at Phoenix on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference:
- Curry shook off a rough first half (eight points on 2-of-9 shooting) and to deliver a sublime final two quarters, scoring 27 points (on 10-of-14 shooting) and dishing out four assists after halftime. The 38-year-old star showed why he was determined to return this season after a persistent right knee injury caused him to miss 27 consecutive games, as Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. “This is why Steph came back,” Kerr told reporters in Inglewood. “So, everybody out there who thought Steph should have taken the rest of the year off, this is what he does! This is who he is! If he can compete, he’s going to compete. And it was just incredible to watch.”
- Curry and Green had plenty of help to win Wednesday’s game, with Gui Santos (20 points, six rebounds, five assists), Kristaps Porzingis (20 points, five rebounds five assists, two blocks) and Al Horford all delivering in key moments. Horford’s contributions may have been the most unexpected, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic — the veteran big man was 0-for-3 from three-point range entering the fourth quarter, when he converted all four of his attempts. “Steph was in my ear,” said Horford, who returned to action from a calf strain with two games left in the regular season. “Draymond was in my ear the whole time, giving me that confidence and letting me know that I do that, that I’m capable of (that). And for me, that was a special moment that I shared with them there, and with our season on the line, it was pretty fitting.”
- Porzingis is listed as questionable for Friday’s game due to right ankle soreness (Twitter link via Slater). The impending free agent center was “limping a bit” after Wednesday’s victory, Slater writes.
- According to Slater (Twitter video link), Kerr isn’t expected to make a decision about his coaching future in the immediate aftermath of whenever the Warriors’ season comes to an end. For what it’s worth, Golden State’s longtime coach, who is on expiring contract, was euphoric after Wednesday’s win. “There’s a reason we have four championships,” Kerr said, per Slater. “With all the wins we’ve ever had here — a lot of them with a lot more at stake — this is right up there. Just because of where we are and our age and the decline of our performance this year and our injuries. It was just a beautiful display of competitive will.”
- In an interview with Mark Medina of RG.org, Gary Payton II discusses playing with Curry and Green and the news that Seattle is being considered for an expansion team. Payton, the son of SuperSonics legend Gary Payton, was born in the Emerald City. “It’s about time. Hopefully, I can get there before my career is over and put on a Sonics jersey,” the younger said. “We’ll see how it plays out. But if not, it’ll be good to go up there and see some games.”
Clippers Notes: Lue, Garland, Kawhi, Offseason, CP3
The Clippers have registered an NBA-best 15 consecutive winning seasons, but they’ve gone five straight years without winning a playoff series and, after Wednesday’s loss to Golden State, have now failed to make it out of the play-in tournament twice during those five years, writes Law Murray of The Athletic.
Following an unceremonious end to a turbulent season, the Clippers’ next steps are unclear. A league source tells Murray that head coach Tyronn Lue – under contract through 2029 – isn’t going anywhere this offseason, and neither is the team’s new point guard of the present and future, Darius Garland. But beyond that, everything is in flux.
Kawhi Leonard‘s future, which he declined to discuss after Wednesday’s loss, is the biggest question mark hanging over the franchise. A league source tells Murray that the Clippers don’t believe the NBA’s investigation into Leonard’s alleged no-show endorsement deal with Aspiration will result in a significant punishment for the franchise — or in the star forward’s contract being voided. But even if that’s the case, Leonard will have to be traded or extended in order to avoid having him play out an expiring contract in 2026/27.
And beyond Leonard, there are several decisions facing the Clippers up and down their roster. John Collins, whom Murray describes as a good locker room fit, will be an unrestricted free agent, while newcomer Bennedict Mathurin is entering restricted free agency. The team holds options on Brook Lopez, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nicolas Batum, Jordan Miller, and Kobe Sanders, while defensive aces Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. will be eligible for extensions.
As the Clippers prepare for an eventful offseason, here are a few notes on the club:
- Garland, who underwent surgery on his left big toe last offseason and sprained his right big toe earlier in the season, said on Wednesday that he has been playing on “nine toes,” per Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link). As Garland explained, the right toe feels fine now, but the left one has remained an issue. The guard’s goal this offseason is to “get healthy.”
- Previewing the Clippers’ summer, ESPN’s Bobby Marks suggests that adding frontcourt help and acquiring a play-maker to back up Garland should be priorities for the club. Marks also points out that operating as an under-the-cap team is a possibility, though it would require L.A. to part ways with several role players, so operating above the cap seems more likely. The Clippers should have more than enough flexibility to re-sign Mathurin and use the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception if Collins isn’t re-signed, Marks adds.
- Over four months after the Clippers announced they were parting ways with him, Chris Paul wasn’t shedding any tears when their season ended on Wednesday. As Murray notes (via Twitter), the veteran point guard posted the “I stopped by one of my biggest hater’s funeral” meme on his Instagram account shortly after L.A. was eliminated.
Nuggets, Pacers To Play In Mexico City On Nov. 7
The Nuggets and Pacers will play a regular season game in Mexico City on Saturday, November 7, the NBA announced in a press release.
It will be Denver’s second time playing in Mexico and Indiana’s first. The matchup will mark the league’s 35th game in the Latin American country since 1992, per the release.
The Nuggets, who are the third seed in the Western Conference entering the 2025/26 playoffs, won their first NBA championship in 2023. The Pacers, meanwhile, came one half away from winning their first title last year.
This will be the third straight year in which the annual Mexico City game will occur during the week of Día de Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) celebrations. As usual, the contest will take place at the Arena CDMX.
We’ll likely have to wait a few months until the full schedules for 2026/27 are revealed, but we can mark Nov. 7 down for the Nuggets and Pacers.
Donovan Mitchell Reiterates Desire To Stay In Cleveland
Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell could be a free agent next year, as he’ll make $50.1MM in 2026/27, with a $53.8MM player option for ’27/28. Mitchell will be eligible this summer for a four-year extension worth a projected $277MM.
Sam Amick of The Athletic recently asked Mitchell how he would feel about signing a long-term deal with the Cavaliers, and the 29-year-old guard had nothing but good things to say about the organization.
“I love Cleveland. I’ve said it before: I want to play here for as long as I can,” Mitchell told The Athletic. “And the goal is to win — as long as we’re continuing to win at the highest level. But I love it, man. It’s a place that I feel like I can call home, you know what I mean? And I feel good. My fiance (singer/songwriter and actress Coco Jones) feels good about it.
“… The Cleveland life — I love it. I’m good. Now, the basketball just has to continue to be right where it’s been. This organization has shown time and time again that they’re willing to do whatever it takes, and that’s what you want.”
Amick’s exclusive interview with Mitchell covers his preexisting relationship with James Harden (both represent Adidas), when Mitchell learned of the trade talks with the Clippers, how Mitchell felt about the state of the team leading up to the Harden deal, and more. When asked about a report that Mitchell used his contract status to pressure the Cavs to make a move, the seven-time All-Star denied that was the case.
“I’ve said this many times, Sam, and I don’t know why people don’t believe me,” Mitchell said. “But I really like it here. There’s also a business component (that) people just don’t understand. Like, I did an interview with (The Athletic’s) Joe (Vardon) the other day, and that s–t I was talking about with the food was real.
“My thing is, this s–t is real. I don’t know why — I mean, I know why — but people can’t fathom the fact that I’m really enjoying it here. And when I’m talking about Cleveland, I’m talking about the organization. I felt like, okay, yes, there was a business (discussion about the Harden trade), like ‘Yes, let’s do this.’ But I never went to them and was like, ‘Yo, let’s do this.’ And that’s why I appreciated it, because this was on them.”
As Amick observes, Harden and Mitchell are two of the more accomplished active players who have never won a championship despite making the playoffs each season of their respective careers. Mitchell told Amick he and Harden both plan to “do whatever it f—ing takes to win” their first title this season.
“I don’t want to say it’s his last shot, or my last shot, either. But it’s our best shot,” Mitchell said of Harden. “There’s a reason why he chose here. He sees it. We know what we’ve gotta do. Now, how do we do it? Him and I are gonna be fine. We’re gonna stagger our minutes. We’re gonna do all that, and then in crunch time we all know.
“(But) how are we going to get (Sam Merrill involved)? How we gonna get J.A. (Jarrett Allen), Evan (Mobley), Max (Strus), Keon (Ellis), Dennis (Schröder), everybody, around to gel and fit, you know what I mean? And the best part about (Harden) was that when you have a guy come in, and he’s like ‘Don, this is your team, bro.’ Then you go do your thing. You feel comfortable to be like, ‘Alright, bet.”
Amick’s conversation with Mitchell is worth reading in full for Cavaliers fans who subscribe to The Athletic.
And-Ones: D. Jones, Prediction Markets, 65-Game Rule, More
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is expected to plead guilty to charges related to illegal betting, according to reports from Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic and Michael R. Sisak of The Associated Press.
Jones, one of nearly three-dozen people arrested in connection to a federal investigation into illegal sports gambling, was accused of profiting from a rigged poker game and of providing inside information to sports bettors. Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested and charged in the former case, while Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested and charged in the latter.
Jones, one of three defendants named in each of the two indictments, originally pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in both cases last November. However, he has decided to change his plea. According to Vorkunov, Jones is due to appear in a federal court in Brooklyn on April 28, though Sisak says his change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for May 6.
While Jones never held a formal coaching position with the Lakers, he’s a longtime friend of LeBron James who was often around the team and would occasionally fly with the players to road games. Federal prosecutors have accused Jones of using his access to sell non-public information to gamblers, most notably in relation to a game on February 9, 2023 between the Lakers and Bucks, which James sat out. Jones allegedly sent a text message to an unnamed co-conspirator that read, “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out.”
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- The NBA is engaged in talks with Kalshi and Polymarket about a potential prediction-market deal, reports Ben Horney of Front Office Sports. Sources tell Horney that the NBA would like to gain a measure of control over which markets are permitted and wants to ensure there are mechanisms in place to “monitor suspicious trading patterns.” The NHL has already reached deals with Kalshi and Polymarket, while MLB agreed to an exclusive partnership with Polymarket.
- Although Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham were granted award eligibility on Thursday through the appeals process, the National Basketball Players Association would still like to see the 65-game rule eliminated or modified, according to Dan Woike, Sam Amick, and Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. A league source tells The Athletic that the rule was initially proposed by the league and eventually accepted by the players’ union, but the NBPA no longer supports it.
- Eric Nehm and Fred Katz of The Athletic takes a look at the top first-time head coaching candidates from around the NBA, including Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, Heat assistant Chris Quinn, and Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, among several others.
- The NBA announced this week that it boasted impressive viewership numbers in 2025/26, the first year of its new $76 billion media rights deal with Disney, Amazon, and NBC. As The Associated Press relays, the NBA said the average viewership of games across ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and NBA TV was up 35% from last season and reached its highest mark in 13 seasons. The league added that 170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA games on those four broadcast platforms this season, the highest total in 24 years and an 86% increase on last season’s total.
Ja Morant Trade Market Expected To Expand In Offseason
The Grizzlies discussed possible Ja Morant trades with a handful of teams prior to February’s deadline, but they didn’t gain traction in those talks, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright, who say that at least one potential trade partner – the Kings – wanted Memphis to attach a first-round pick to the two-time All-Star, prompting the Grizzlies to end their negotiations.
Morant’s trade value has fallen off drastically in recent years due to a combination of health issues, declining production, and off-court transgressions. However, even though he made just 20 appearances in 2025/26, the expectation is that the Grizzlies will be in better position to find a viable deal this offseason, per MacMahon and Wright — even if the return for the veteran guard will fall well short of what the team could’ve gotten a few years ago.
[RELATED: Grizzlies Plan To Trade Ja Morant In Offseason]
As MacMahon and Wright explain, there are a few factors that could help grease the wheels on a Morant deal in the coming months. For one, a suitor will likely feel comfortable about incorporating a ball-dominant player like Morant during the summer rather than midway through the season. Interested teams should also have more time during the offseason to conduct thorough background research on Morant, including going through his medical history.
Additionally, if Giannis Antetokounmpo is traded this summer, teams that miss out on the star forward may feel more compelled to pivot to a Plan B like Morant. And even if Antetokounmpo isn’t dealt, clubs who didn’t meet their expectations in 2025/26 could feel more pressure to roll the dice on a buy-low opportunity.
“There’s certainly going to be hesitation,” one Western Conference director of pro personnel told ESPN, “but there’s going to be several desperate teams.”
“There will be teams that will feel like they didn’t get what they wanted in the draft or free agency, and that’s when something could happen for Ja,” another West executive added.
Here’s more from MacMahon and Wright on Morant:
- Many rival executives were preparing for Morant to become available last offseason after the Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane and declined to engage in extension talks with the star point guard, MacMahon and Wright say. The belief that Morant’s time in Memphis is nearing an end only grew after he had an early-season disagreement head coach Tuomas Iisalo and was suspended for one game by the team. That suspension rubbed Morant the wrong way, according to ESPN’s reporters, who say he told “players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn’t playing for Memphis anymore.”
- The return that the Hawks got when they traded Trae Young to Washington in January – CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, with no draft picks – is the type of package that many league executives view as “reasonable” for Morant, per ESPN’s duo.
- There’s a sense that the Kings could circle back to Morant during the summer if they don’t land a lead guard of the future with their lottery pick, sources familiar with the team’s thinking tell MacMahon and Wright.
- Some executives believe Morant – who is still just 26 years old – is a strong bounce-back candidate in the event of a trade. “Maybe I’m naive, but that type of talent doesn’t grow on trees,” one exec told ESPN. “Especially if he’s going to a different place and he’s motivated: ‘OK, I’ll show you guys.’ I could see some teams talking themselves into it, at least kicking the tires.”
Details On NBA’s Playoff Bonus Money For 2025/26
The pool of bonus money for NBA playoff teams this season is worth approximately $36MM, according to Kurt Badenhausen and Lev Akabas of Sportico.
The top six teams in each conference earn bonuses based on their regular season records, while the 16 playoff teams also receive a chunk of money from the playoff pool, increasing the value of their payout with each series win. That bonus money is divvied up among the players on each club’s 15-man roster.
Teams eliminated in the play-in tournament aren’t entitled to any of the playoff bonus money, even if they had the seventh- or eighth-best regular season record in their conference.
The breakdown for 2026’s playoff pool money is as follows (rounded to the nearest thousand), per Sportico:
Regular season achievements:
- Best record in NBA (Thunder): $896K
- No. 1 seeds in each conference (Pistons, Thunder): $784K per team
- No. 2 seeds (Celtics, Spurs): $628K per team
- No. 3 seeds (Knicks, Nuggets): $471K per team
- No. 4 seeds (Cavaliers, Lakers): $384K per team
- No. 5 seeds (Raptors, Rockets): $297K per team
- No. 6 seeds (Hawks, Timberwolves): $210K per team
Postseason achievements:
- Teams participating in first round (all 16 playoff teams — the 12 listed above, plus the Sixers, Trail Blazers, and Friday’s play-in winners): $481K per team
- Teams participating in conference semifinals (eight teams): $586K per team
- Teams participating in conference finals (four teams): $980K per team
- Losing team in NBA Finals: $3,921,000
- Winning team in NBA Finals: $9,078,000
A team that makes a deep playoff run will cash in on more than one of the bonuses listed above.
For example, if the Thunder win the championship, their payout from the playoff pool would be worth more than $12.8MM in total — that amount would include their bonuses for posting the NBA’s best record, claiming the West’s No. 1 seed, making the first round, making the conference semifinals, making the conference finals, and winning the NBA Finals.
The total amount of the playoff bonus pool, which is based on a formula connected to basketball-related income (BRI), is up 3% from last season, according to Badenhausen and Akabas.
Wizards Plan To Retain Brian Keefe For 2026/27
The Wizards intend to bring back head coach Brian Keefe for the 2026/27 season, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. General manager Will Dawkins confirmed as much during his end-of-season media session on Thursday, as Michael Scotto of HoopsHype relays (Twitter video link).
“Yeah, I anticipate Brian Keefe to be here,” Dawkins said when asked to clarify whether the Wizards plan to retain their coach.
Keefe has compiled an ugly 43-160 (.212) record since replacing Wes Unseld Jr. on Washington’s bench midway through the 2023/24 season. However, the franchise has been deep in rebuilding mode during that time and hasn’t necessarily wanted to be competitive, with a greater emphasis placed on draft position and player development.
As Robbins explains, the front office has appreciated the work Keefe has done over the last couple years with big man Alex Sarr, forward Kyshawn George, and liked the progress that rookies Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Jamir Watkins made over the course of this season. Even after acquiring veteran stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young in mid-season trades, the team wants to continue prioritizing player development in the coming years, Robbins writes, and therefore views Keefe as good fit going forward.
Keefe also endeared himself to team officials based on his “willingness to collaborate with the front office,” according to Robbins, who adds that the head coach is well-liked by Wizards players.
Team president Michael Winger said in January that he believes Keefe has helped to establish a culture of competitiveness in D.C.
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 4/16/2026
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included the Hawks' approach to stopping Jalen Brunson, the Bulls' plans with Billy Donovan, Kawhi Leonard's future with the Clippers, how playoff outcomes will affect the offseason and more!
