And-Ones: OKC/Spurs Impact, Anderson, Joerger, More
The Thunder and Spurs have built talented young rosters that look capable of contending for championships for the next five or 10 years, but rival teams won’t be content to take a step back and wait their turn until those potential dynasties in Oklahoma City and San Antonio eventually crumble, writes Howard Beck of The Ringer.
“The notion that everyone is just gonna accept it is insane,” an executive from an Eastern Conference playoff team told Beck. “Everybody that are in these jobs are competitive. They’re not just gonna accept it. A team like San Antonio, who have gotten lucky to get generational talent multiple times (in the lottery), people take that s–t personally, and they have a drive to beat those guys. They’re not gonna sit back and take a beating for the next 10 years.”
As Beck writes, teams around the NBA figure to seek “advantages in the margins” as they considers ways to match up with and beat these two Western Conference powerhouses. Wild-card factors like injuries could also affect the ability of OKC and San Antonio to make deep playoff runs in certain years. Plus, there’s no guarantee that either team will be able to maintain the star power and depth of their respective rosters as their key players get more expensive and they have to navigate punitive apron-related restrictions.
“People are gonna figure it out, how to beat them,” that same exec told Beck. “With the rules the way they are, San Antonio may not be able to keep all those guys. So a window opens up again. You have to be prepared for when that window is there.”
We have more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson will be keeping name in the 2026 NBA draft pool, agent Aaron Mintz tells Jeff Borzello of ESPN. Anderson, a projected top-20 pick, was always expected to forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility and go pro, but now it’s confirmed. “This is a dream I’ve worked toward my entire life, and the fact that it’s now a real opportunity is something I don’t take for granted,” said Anderson, who ranks 16th on ESPN’s board. “I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to compete at the highest level in the world, and I’m ready to make the most of it.”
- Former NBA head coach Dave Joerger has interviewed with Melbourne United for their head coaching vacancy, reports Pete Hooley for NBL.com.au. Joerger compiled a 245-247 record in six seasons coaching Memphis and Sacramento and has spent the past two years as a Bucks assistant. As Hooley notes, he has a strong relationship with veteran forward Joe Ingles, who is joining Melbourne United for the 2026/27 season.
- ESPN’s Zach Kram, Ben Golliver, and Andre Snellings propose six hypothetical offseason trades that could shake up the league, including one that sends Ja Morant to Minnesota and one sending Kyrie Irving to Detroit. Evaluating the trade concepts, Bobby Marks is most intrigued by one that sends Daniel Gafford from Dallas to the Lakers, reuniting him with former pick-and-roll partner Luka Doncic.
- In a story open to non-subscribers, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron hands out his front office awards for the 2025/26 season. Gozlan lauds the Celtics for the best salary cap management and the Thunder for maintaining the most efficient payroll, while dubbing the Hawks‘ deal with Nickeil Alexander-Walker the best value signing.
And-Ones: Lewis, Sochan, Fournier, Parker
The 2026 draft class lost another guard prospect on Friday, as ball-handler Acaden Lewis opted to remove his name from the draft pool, per Jon Rothstein of CBS (via Twitter). Lewis will instead transfer to Miami after leaving Villanova.
A 6’2″ left-handed point guard, Lewis showed a good deal of craft and skill as a play-maker for the Wildcats as a 20-year-old freshman, averaging 5.3 assists per game while posting a 33.7% assist percentage. He was second in the Big East in total assists and assists per game and third in steals.
Despite averaging 12.2 points per game, Lewis struggled with his efficiency throughout the season, shooting just 27.0% from three and 58.3% on free throws. He was also sixth in the Big East in turnovers.
Lewis, who visited Miami before eventually committing to Villanova, will look to form an imposing two-way partnership with athletic big man Somto Cyril, who is a high-level lob threat and rim protector.
We have more news from around the basketball world:
- Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan has been named to Poland preliminary roster for this summer’s World Cup qualifiers, Johnny Askounis writes for Eurohoops. Sochan will be a free agent this summer and the next round of qualifying games will take place in early July, so it remains to be seen whether the former lottery pick will suit up for the Polish team in those games. The 32-man preliminary roster is expected to be pared down to 15 players by June 8, Askounis notes.
- Longtime NBA wing Evan Fournier has been named MVP of the EuroLeague Final Four after scoring 20 points with five rebounds and four assists to help Olympiacos win the tournament over Real Madrid, Askounis writes. After the game, he thanked the fans, whom he credited for the victory, congratulated Madrid on its season, and downplayed the notion that failing to make the Final Four last season was a source of motivation for him. “Honestly, no,” he said. “My motivation comes from love.”
- Spurs legend Tony Parker is expected to become the head coach of ASVEL Villeurbanne in France for next season and is on track to earn a salary of approximately 1.2 million Euros, which would make him the highest-paid coach in the history of the French League, writes Donatas Urbonas of Basket News. Parker, who is currently the team’s president, was previously a shareholder before selling his stake in the team, is also looking to bring in national team head coach Vincent Collet as either a lead assistant or a consultant as he seeks to surround himself with experienced, capable voices. Collet worked as a consultant for the Cavaliers this season. Urbonas reports that several new investors are expected to join ASVEL, a major change in the finances for the club, which had one of the lowest budgets in EuroLeague this season.
And-Ones: Wemby’s Impact, FAs, World Cup Qualifiers, Okobo
Rival teams are watching what Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are doing in this postseason with interest and trepidation, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. As Amick details, front offices around the NBA – recognizing that Wembanyama will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come – are thinking hard about ways to combat him.
“Teams will definitely have to start figuring out, ‘How do we get through this guy?'” an Eastern Conference executive said. “So you look at it, and it’s like, ‘What do we need? How do we build our team to get better to compete against (Wembanyama and the Spurs)?’ Trust me, it’s on everybody’s mind. Teams will try to find ways that they can build a roster out to beat the Spurs, just like they are to beat OKC.”
That executive pointed to Utah’s mid-season acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. as a move that may have been made with Wembanyama in mind, since the Jazz now have three athletic frontcourt players – Jackson, Walker Kessler, and Lauri Markkanen – to throw at the Spurs star. That same exec also suggested that a prospect like 7’3″ Michigan center Aday Mara could see his draft stock rise as teams seek players capable of slowing down Wembanyama.
Wembanyama’s impact could even have a ripple effect on Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s trade value this offseason, as one Western Conference executive told Amick: “Giannis is a matchup solution for Wemby, so I could definitely see teams factoring that in when they’re discussing trading for him.”
Still, there’s no obvious answer for stopping this sort of unique player who looks capable of becoming one of the league’s all-time greats.
“He’s a problem from inside the half court, and there’s just no one like that,” an exec said to Amick with a laugh. “At least Shaq was human in the sense that you needed three centers to bang with him. You’ve got 18 fouls (to work with). Maybe one was skilled, and the other two could hold him up while the other guys get rest. But there’s no archetype like (Wembanyama) — no player ever. It’s a problem, and it’s going to be a problem for 15 years.”
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- ESPN’s Bobby Marks takes a closer look at 20 of this summer’s top free agents, breaking down what sort of contract he’d offer each player. Marks’ hypothetical offers include five years and $180MM for Pistons center Jalen Duren, four years and $155MM for Lakers guard Austin Reaves, three years and $130MM for Wizards guard Trae Young, and two years and $40MM for Warriors forward Draymond Green.
- Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Wizards big man Alex Sarr, and Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher are among the players included on France’s preliminary roster for this July’s FIBA World Cup qualifying games (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Serbian head coach Dusan Alimpijevic told Mozzart Sport that Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is expected to suit up for the Serbian national team during both World Cup qualifying windows this offseason, as Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops relays.
- Former NBA guard Elie Okobo has been named the Most Valuable Player of France’s top basketball league (LNB Elite), Askounis writes for Eurohoops. Okobo, who appeared in 108 regular season games for Phoenix from 2018-20, averaged 16.7 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game with an outstanding .621/.506/.883 shooting line in 24 domestic league games for AS Monaco in 2025/26.
- Kevin Sweeney of SI.com explores how new eligibility requirement guidance distributed by the NCAA could impact international players looking to play college basketball going forward.
And-Ones: Wiseman, Toppin, Luis, Ingles
Is James Wiseman headed to Israel? That’s a real possibility, Sportando’s Dario Skerletic relays.
According to Tomer Givati of Israel Hayom, Wiseman has received an offer from Maccabi Tel Aviv. The free agent center is reportedly considering a move overseas in order to play more consistently.
Wiseman appeared in four games with the Pacers this season before he was released the day after Christmas. The former No. 2 overall pick only appeared in one game during the previous season due to an Achilles tear.
Here’s more from around the international basketball world:
- Another Israeli team, Hapoel Tel Aviv, is reportedly in talks with another former NBA big man, Jacob Toppin, according to Alessandro Maggi of Sportando, via Sport5. Toppin is considered Jewish and therefore would not count as a foreign player, Maggi notes. Toppin was waived in mid-December by the Hawks as a two-way player after he underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. He suffered the injury in a G League game with the College Park Skyhawks.
- Former St. John’s star RJ Luis, the 2025 Big East Player of the Year, has committed to LSU but is likely to encounter a long eligibility fight, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Luis went undrafted last year, then signed a two-way contract with the Jazz before being traded to the Celtics in early August. He was waived by the Celtics before signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate. The Maine Celtics waived Luis, who was injured, before he played a game.
- Joe Ingles said he was eager to keep playing. That’s why he signed a two-year deal with Melbourne United after finishing out the season with the Timberwolves, he told Olgun Uluc of ESPN. “I knew, deep down, I had that itch to play,” he said “We would play pick-up every game day, and I would be competing, I would play really well, I felt really good. I obviously just wasn’t getting the minutes with the team we had in Minnesota.”
Yam Madar Reportedly Agrees To Deal With LSU
Israeli point guard Yam Madar has agreed to a lucrative contract to play college basketball at LSU, according to a report from Mozzart Sport. Israel Hayom previously reported that Madar was in advanced talks with LSU on a deal worth approximately $5MM.
Both outlets noted that Madar would have to be granted special eligibility from the NCAA in order to be cleared to suit up for the Tigers. He turned 25 years old in December and holds extensive international experience, so he’d only be able to play one season if he’s granted eligibility.
According to Kevin Sweeney of SI.com (Twitter link), Madar’s case for eligibility would likely be tied to an exemption for military service and participation with the Israeli national team.
Madar is a former second-round pick, having been selected 47th overall in 2020. However, he never signed an NBA contract, and the Celtics — the team that drafted him — still control his NBA rights.
According to Israel Yayom, Madar has been unhappy with his role with Hapoel Tel Aviv, as he rarely played in EuroLeague action in 2025/26. The 6’3″ guard is under contract next season at an estimated $1.9MM, but his deal features a buyout clause that could allow him to play for LSU, assuming he’s eligible.
Madar, who won the EuroLeague’s Rising Star award during the ’22/23 campaign, has played for Hapoel Tel Aviv, Partizan Belgrade, Fenerbahce, and Bayern Munich since he was drafted six years ago.
There’s no recent precedent for a player in Madar’s situation. The closest comparable might be James Nnaji, a Knicks prospect who was selected 31st overall in the 2024 draft. However, Nnaji, who played a modest role for Baylor to end last season, is nearly four full years younger than Madar.
Joe Ingles Signs Two-Year Contract With Melbourne United
Longtime NBA forward Joe Ingles has officially signed a two-year contract with Melbourne United, the team announced in a press release.
It’s a homecoming for the Australian veteran, who was born in Adelaide and played high school ball in Canberra. The 38-year-old was a member of the now-defunct South Dragons in Melbourne from 2006-09 before going undrafted in ’09. Ingles spent the next several years competing in Spain and Israel, then eventually made the move to the NBA in 2014.
The 6’8″ forward has been stateside for the past 12 seasons, but after playing big minutes in Utah earlier in his career, he has essentially just been a locker room leader for the last couple years in Minnesota. Since joining the Timberwolves in the summer of 2024, Ingles only made 46 regular season appearances and played 267 total minutes (5.8 per game), primarily in garbage time.
ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reported at the start of April that Ingles was interested in continuing his career with another Melbourne-based team, with the South East Melbourne Phoenix being the other National Basketball League club located in the city. Uluc reported at the end of last month that Ingles would be signing with the United.
“Coming home to Melbourne feels incredibly special,” Ingles said in a statement. “To return to where my professional career began almost 20 years ago is something I don’t take for granted. So much has happened since then, but Melbourne has always felt like home.
“… From a basketball perspective, this opportunity really excited me. I still love competing, I still love the game, and I believe I can genuinely help this group win.”
Ingles has represented Australia for many years on the international stage, playing in four FIBA World Cups and five Olympics. He helped the Boomers win their first ever Olympic medal (bronze) at the 2020 games in Tokyo.
In 750 regular season games (23.5 minutes per contest) with the Jazz, Bucks, Magic and Wolves, Ingles averaged 7.7 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 40.9% from three-point range. He was a solid defender and play-maker in his prime on top of being an excellent three-point shooter.
Dubai Basketball Expresses Interest In Guerschon Yabusele
Dubai Basketball is “very interested” in signing Guerschon Yabusele if he decides to resume playing overseas, according to Oscar Herreros (Twitter link; hat tip to Sportando).
The French forward is expected to have plenty of EuroLeague interest this summer after spending the past two seasons in the NBA. He declined his 2026/27 player option in February to help facilitate a trade from the Knicks to the Bulls. He said last month that he’s hoping to extend his NBA career, but he might have better options in Europe.
Yabusele spent two unproductive years in Boston after being selected with the 16th pick in the 2016 draft, but he blossomed into a star in Europe and had his best seasons with Real Madrid. He caught the attention of NBA scouts and executives with an outstanding showing for France in the 2024 Olympics and chose Philadelphia out of several NBA offers.
Yabusele showed promise during his return to the league with the Sixers in 2024/25 and signed a multiyear deal with the Knicks last summer. However, he couldn’t duplicate that performance in New York and wound up out of the rotation, averaging just 8.9 minutes in 41 games. He got a bit of a revival with a trade to Chicago at the deadline and finished the season strong, starting 19 of the 26 games he played for the Bulls and averaging 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per night while shooting 38.3% from three-point range.
At age 30, Yabusele faces an uncertain NBA future, especially with the changes in Chicago’s front office. Although he plans to explore his NBA opportunities, a return to Europe may wind up being more profitable.
Dubai made its EuroLeague debut last season with a roster that featured several ex-NBA players, and the franchise continues to be aggressive in its pursuit of high-level talent. Former NBA big man Mamadi Diakite is also rumored to be considering a deal with Dubai.
Omer Yurtseven Nearing Agreement With Real Madrid
Omer Yurtseven is in “advanced talks” to join Real Madrid for the rest of the season, sources tell Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. Yurtseven won’t be eligible for EuroLeague competition, but he’ll strengthen the team’s frontcourt going into the Spanish League playoffs.
The 27-year-old big man has four years of NBA experience, including nine games this season with the Warriors after signing a pair of 10-day contracts in March. Yurtseven filled a backup role for Golden State, averaging 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per night.
Yurtseven had spent most of the past two years overseas playing for Panathinaikos, but he parted ways with the Greek team in February. He signed a G League deal and spent time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before getting the opportunity with the Warriors.
Yurtseven began his NBA career with Miami in 2021 and appeared in 65 games over two seasons. He also played 48 games for Utah during the 2023/24 season.
Urbonas states that Real Madrid needs reinforcements after losing former NBA centers Edy Tavares and Alex Len to injuries. Ex-NBA player Usman Garuba is currently the only big man in the lineup.
Former First-Rounder Sam Dekker Transitioning To Coaching
Former NBA first-round pick Sam Dekker has been named an assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of South Carolina, the school announced in a press release. The 32-year-old will work under head coach Lamont Harris, who was an assistant at Wisconsin during Dekker’s time with the Badgers.
While Dekker will be involved in all aspects of coaching for the Gamecocks, his focus will be on-court player development.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of Gamecock basketball,” said Dekker. “I’m so grateful to Coach Paris for trusting me with this role, and I take it very seriously. The decision to transition from player to coach is not one I took lightly, but joining Coach Paris and this program was a dream opportunity.
“I am thrilled to return to the college game and compete at such a high level in the SEC. My 11 years as a pro have provided so many experiences with amazing players, coaches and styles. Some of my best memories as a player were competing in two Final Fours with Coach Paris, and I look forward to doing that with him again. My goal is to win in March and give our players the best opportunity for success on and off the court.”
The 18th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Dekker spent his entire rookie scale contract (four years) in the NBA but didn’t find a ton of success. He was traded multiple times in those four seasons and spent a couple years in Russia and Turkey before catching on with the Raptors in the 2021 offseason.
The 6’9″ forward only spent a few months with Toronto, having been waived at the start of the 2021/22 campaign after making one brief appearance with the team. He has spent the past five seasons playing professionally in Turkey, England and — most recently — Spain.
Dekker was a productive international player as recently as 2024/25, but his numbers fell off considerably last season the Spanish club Joventut. The former Badgers star averaged 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game across 201 NBA appearances.
And-Ones: Fertitta, WNBA, Cotton, Refs, Diakite
The WNBA’s and NBA’s Board of Governors have approved the sale of the Connecticut Sun to Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, according to Doug Feinberg of The Associated Press.
While the Sun will finish the current season in Connecticut, the plan for 2027 is for the franchise to relocate to Houston, where the team is expected to be rebranded as the Comets. The original iteration of the Houston Comets competed in the WNBA from 1997-2008 before folding.
According to Alexa Philippou of ESPN (Twitter link), the Comets won’t have a standalone practice facility in Houston. The plan is for the team to practice at Toyota Center, which is in the process of undergoing a $180MM renovation project in order to update its infrastructure. The Comets will share the building with the Rockets.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- American-born guard Bryce Cotton, a six-time MVP in Australia’s National Basketball League, will suit up for the Australian national team during July’s World Cup qualifiers after becoming a citizen last September, reports ESPN’s Olgun Uluc. In a separate story for ESPN, Uluc examines how Cotton’s eligibility will impact the Boomers going forward, noting that the team can’t have more than one naturalized player on its roster in the World Cup or Olympics. That means either Cotton or Matisse Thybulle would be an odd man out.
- The National Basketball Players Association announced the findings of its annual referee player survey on Wednesday, dividing the league’s officials into three tiers based on player feedback. The 26 referees in the first tier are considered “elite and top performers,” while the 27 in the second tier are viewed as “solid performers.” The 20 in the third tier fall under the heading “needs improvement.”
- On the heels of a strong EuroLeague season with Baskonia in Spain, former NBA big man Mamadi Diakite is believed be nearing a deal with Dubai Basketball, according to a report from BasketNews.com. Diakite, 29, appeared in a total of 55 NBA regular season games for Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Cleveland, San Antonio, and New York from 2021-24.
- The NBA announced tentative schedules for the conference finals on Wednesday, as Adam Zagoria of NJ.com relays (via Twitter). The Eastern Conference finals will begin on either Sunday or Tuesday, depending on whether the Cavaliers and Pistons require a Game 7, while the Western finals will tip off on either Monday or Wednesday, pending the results of Friday’s Game 6 between the Spurs and Timberwolves. The Knicks and Thunder await the winners of those conference semifinals.