Raptors Agree To Extend GM Bobby Webster’s Contract
The Raptors have agreed to a multiyear extension for general manager Bobby Webster, according to a team press release. In addition to the extension, Webster has already earned a promotion, adding the new title of executive vice president to his existing GM title.
Webster, 41, is headed into his 10th season as the Raptors’ general manager. He assumed full leadership of the front office in August 2025 following the team’s split with president Masai Ujiri. Before being elevated to the GM role, he served as assistant GM and VP, basketball management and strategy.
Michael Grange of Sportsnet reported last month that an extension for Webster was likely. Toronto’s head of basketball operations had one year left on his contract and the organization was seeking continuity after making its first playoff appearance in four years.
“We’re building something special here, and I’m proud to continue to lead the Toronto Raptors as we work towards our next championship,” Webster said in a statement. “Thank you to (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO) Keith (Pelley) and the MLSE Board of Directors for their confidence and support. This is a franchise that’s focused on the future, and we’re ready for what’s next.”
“Bobby has an elite understanding of the game and the NBA, and he’s used that to build a team that competes at a high level,” Pelley added in a statement of his own. “It’s been an exciting year for the Raptors. They were a joy to watch compete together, and with Bobby and the Raptors, we’ve seen the results, and we believe in where his leadership will take us.”
The Raptors also announced contract extensions for three additional front office members: Dan Tolzman, vice president, player personnel and assistant general manager; Keith Boyarsky, vice president, basketball strategy and research; and Tyla Flexman, vice president, operations.
“This group has been integral to building the organization and shaping our long-term vision – their leadership, expertise and commitment is second to none,” Webster said.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic could be next in line for an extension, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets. Rajakovic also has one year left on his contract.
Windhorst: Heat ‘The Team To Watch’ In Giannis Trade Sweepstakes
The Heat are “the team to watch” as trade talks surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo intensify, Brian Windhorst said Monday morning on ESPN’s “Get Up” during a panel discussion of the Bucks star (Twitter video link).
“Miami would say … well, we’ve got Tyler Herro, who is a young player who’s been an All-Star, we’ve got draft picks, including the 13th pick in this draft – we can give you a lottery pick in this draft – and Giannis, I think, wants to be in Miami,” Windhorst said. “There’s more checkmarks on Miami.”
A report last week from Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic listed Herro and the No. 13 pick as part of the Heat’s likely offer to Milwaukee, along with second-year center Kel’el Ware, Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Jaime Jaquez Jr. and two future first-rounders. However, Amick stated Friday on a radio show that Antetokounmpo has “questions” about the quality of Miami’s remaining roster if that deal were to go through.
Antetokounmpo is under contract for one more season at $58.5MM and holds a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28, so there’s some risk involved in trading for him if he’s not fully committed to staying with his new team.
The Bucks are reportedly hoping to resolve the Antetokounmpo situation before the draft begins on June 23, either by trading the 10-time All-Star or getting him to commit to a long-term extension that he’ll become eligible to sign later in the year. Numerous teams have been pursuing Antetokounmpo since the trade deadline or even longer, with the Heat being among the most aggressive.
During the discussion, Windhorst became the latest reporter to throw cold water on the idea that the Thunder might part with Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams to acquire Antetokounmpo following their playoff loss or that the Celtics may get involved with a multi-team deal involving Jaylen Brown.
“The message that Oklahoma City is sending out is that they are not touching that core,” Windhorst said. “You can choose to not believe them if you want; they say they’re running it back.”
Regarding the Celtics, Windhorst stated, “I’m not sure Boston is ready to trade Jaylen Brown. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have won a championship together. I thought there was a decent chance we’d be in Boston right now for Game 3 of these Finals.”
Hawks’ Quin Snyder Signs Multiyear Extension
10:29 am: The Hawks have confirmed the extension in a press release, although terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed.
“I am grateful to the Ressler family and humbled to continue leading this team. I love this group of players, love coaching this team and am fortunate to have a tremendous coaching staff. Atlanta has truly been home for my family, and I am excited to continue this journey,” Snyder said. “Tony (Ressler), Jami (Gertz) and the entire Ressler family are deeply committed to providing us every resource we need for success and the partnership Onsi and I have developed is strong, with the shared focus of bringing Hawks fans the success they deserve.”
9:54 am: Hawks head coach Quin Snyder has agreed to a multiyear contract extension, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The team also recently extended Onsi Saleh while promoting him from general manager to president of basketball operations and is focused on “organizational continuity,” per Charania.
Snyder led Atlanta to its first playoff appearance in three years, ending the regular season on a 20-6 run to grab the sixth seed. The Hawks lost to New York in six games in the opening round, but they’re still the only team to register a victory over the Knicks during this postseason.
The playoff berth came amidst a season of change that saw Trae Young get traded to Washington in January. The Hawks opted to place more emphasis on defense with a collection of young, athletic players, and CJ McCollum, who was acquired in that deal, became a reliable scorer and a late-game hero in their two playoff victories.
Snyder, 59, came to Atlanta midway through the 2022/23 season following a successful eight-year run in Utah. He has a 132-135 record with the Hawks and a 504-399 mark overall.
Charania points out that Snyder is the only head coach to ever have consecutive Most Improved Players, with Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker winning the award the past two seasons.
An extension for Snyder was considered “inevitable,” Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line stated last month. They cited rumors during the regular season that Snyder was viewed as a potential replacement for Kenny Atkinson in Cleveland, but the Cavaliers weren’t ready for a coaching change.
Towns, Knicks Expected To Discuss Extension This Offseason
Karl-Anthony Towns‘ inspired two-way play has the Knicks two wins away from their first NBA championship in 53 years. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, if the team goes on to win the title, there’s an expectation the two sides will discuss a contract extension this offseason.
That may be true whether or not the Knicks win the championship, but Amick suggests a Finals victory would bolster Towns’ odds of signing a lucrative long-term deal. The former No. 1 overall pick will make $57.1MM next season and holds a $61MM player option for ’27/28, which he would need to decline to sign an extension this summer worth up to a projected $272MM over four years.
Amick suggests the star big man is unlikely to receive that full max, given the Knicks already have a high payroll that projects to get more expensive next season. Mitchell Robinson is reportedly expected to receive a good deal of external interest this summer, and Landry Shamet, a key reserve, will be an unrestricted free agent as well. The Knicks could have up to 10 free agents, including all of three of their two-way players.
Towns has outplayed Spurs star Victor Wembanyama so far to help the Knicks go up 2-0 on the road in the NBA Finals, with Game 3 set for Monday in New York. This is the third time in history the road team has won the first two games of the Finals; unsurprisingly, the previous two clubs — the 1993 Bulls and 1995 Rockets — went on to win the championship (Twitter link via the NBA).
Teams that have won the first two road playoff games in a seven-game series have gone on to win those series 27 out of 31 times since 1984, Amick notes.
Less than a year ago, the Knicks decided to table extension talks with Towns, who still still had three years on his contract at the time, per Amick. Shortly thereafter, his name popped in trade rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Towns was floated as a possible trade candidate again in January when New York had a mid-season slump after the team’s NBA Cup victory over San Antonio the month before.
Now Towns has a chance to cement his name as a Knicks legend after helping to lead the team to 13 consecutive playoff wins, the second-longest streak in NBA history (the Warriors won 15 straight in 2017) (Twitter link). They’ve won eight straight road contests during this stretch, tied for the longest road winning streak in playoff history.
Towns, 30, has the best on/off numbers of all the Knicks’ rotation regulars in the playoffs, Amick observes. Through 16 games, he’s averaging 17.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals in 30.7 minutes per contest. He has posted an elite .570/.481/.900 shooting line while providing strong defense.
Sixers Promoting Jameer Nelson To EVP Of Basketball Ops
Sixers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson is being promoted, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, who reports that Nelson’s new title will be executive vice president of basketball operations. He will be second in command in the front office, behind new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.
The news was expected, as Marc Stein and a few other reporters had indicated that Nelson was essentially a lock to be promoted from his current position regardless of who was hired to replace former president Daryl Morey. Gansey ended up getting that job, which Nelson also interviewed for.
Nelson, who is from Chester, Pennsylvania (southwest of Philadelphia but in the metropolitan area) and played his college basketball at Saint Joseph’s, spent 14 years in the NBA as a player, making one All-Star team as a member of the Magic. The former first-round pick has worked his way up the 76ers’ front office over the last six years, initially starting as a scout.
Sixers executive Prosper Karangwa has also agreed to a contract extension, sources tell ESPN, after Stein reported he received interest from the Lakers and Mavericks. Stein was the first to report Karangwa was expected to remain in Philadelphia.
Charania also confirms longtime GM Elton Brand will not return in that role, as Stein has reported. However, Brand is in talks to stay with the 76ers’ parent company in a new position. Charania hears the former NBA star opted not to interview for the president of basketball operations job and remains well-respected within the organization.
Former Bulls Player, Broadcaster Stacey King Dies At 59
Former NBA big man Stacey King, who won three championships as a role player with the Bulls during his eight years in the league, has died at age 59, the team announced in a press release.
King was a longtime and beloved Bulls broadcaster known for his humor, enthusiasm, and generally objective views — he often credited the opposing team for playing well when warranted. His time with the organization spanned more than three decades, per the statement.
“Stacey loved being a Bull. You could feel it in everything he did – the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans,” said president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf. “He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.
“We were fortunate to know him not only as a player and broadcaster, but as a friend. Stacey genuinely cared about people, and he made our organization better. We will miss him dearly, and his impact, memory and legacy will remain a part of the Chicago Bulls forever.”
The Bulls selected King with the sixth overall pick of the 1989 draft. He spent parts of five seasons in Chicago to open his career and had stints with Minnesota, Miami, Boston and Dallas at the end of his NBA playing career.
The left-handed big man was a star in college at Oklahoma, where he was from. King was a consensus first-team All-America selection as a senior for the Sooners in 1988/89.
We at Hoops Rumors send our condolences to King’s family and friends.
Anthony Edwards Wants Timberwolves To Upgrade Roster
Anthony Edwards isn’t satisfied with the current makeup of the Timberwolves‘ roster and is hoping for a significant upgrade this summer, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN (Twitter video link from Heat Central). Windhorst, who made the comments during the network’s coverage of the NBA Finals, suggested that Edwards may be influenced by watching former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns compete for a title after being traded to the Knicks.
“Going forward after this series, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ future is in question somewhat because of what Ant feels about the roster, and I wonder if KAT was still there, if he did,” Windhorst said.
Towns, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft, was the centerpiece in Minnesota for nine years before being traded to New York shortly before the start of the 2024/25 season. He has been an All-Star in both his years with the Knicks, leading the team to the Eastern Conference finals last season and now the NBA Finals.
Minnesota also made out well in the deal as Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo have both turned in two productive seasons. They helped the Wolves reach the conference finals in 2025, but the team was ousted in the second round by San Antonio this year as DiVincenzo was unavailable due to a ruptured Achilles.
Windhorst doesn’t provide any specifics in the brief clip about the kind of improvements that Edwards wants to see. Minnesota’s front office made one of the best deals at the trade deadline by acquiring guard Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago — re-signing him in free agency figures to be one of the priorities for the summer.
Any hint of unhappiness involving Edwards is cause for concern among the Timberwolves, who are building their future around the four-time All-Star. Edwards has three more seasons left on his contract at $48.9MM, $52.3MM and $55.7MM, so he doesn’t have much leverage yet to force his way out of town if he doesn’t get the roster upgrades he wants.
Edwards will be extension-eligible this summer, but it’s unlikely to happen because he fell short of the 65-game threshold this season to qualify for All-NBA honors and major postseason awards. He’s only eligible for a two-year extension worth about $122MM, but he could put himself back in position for a four-year, $300MM super-max offer by making an All-NBA team next year.
Along with Edwards, Minnesota already has heavy salary commitments for next season with $36.5MM owed to Rudy Gobert, $33.3MM to Randle, $26.2MM to Jaden McDaniels and $23.3MM to Naz Reid. The type of addition that Edwards envisions would almost certainly require the team to move back into second apron territory and/or to give up a starter in a trade.
In a recent interview with KFAN (YouTube link), head coach Chris Finch said he expects the Wolves to explore opportunities in the trade market and expressed confidence in president of basketball operations Tim Connelly to keep the team competitive, relays Jordan Samar of Yahoo Sports.
“I do expect us to be (active),” Finch said. “I don’t know what the end result will be, if there will be a lot of change. I mean, we love our core, and we know we need to keep adding to it a little bit. I have the utmost faith in Tim and his crew and (owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez) to be able to do it.”
Mitchell Robinson Increasing Value Ahead Of Free Agency?
Mitchell Robinson appears to be increasing his value ahead of unrestricted free agency, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), who reports that the Knicks‘ backup center is expected to receive “significant” external interest this offseason.
Fischer compares Robinson’s situation to that of his former teammate Isaiah Hartenstein in 2024. Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87MM contract with the Thunder that summer, though only the first two seasons were guaranteed (2026/27 is a team option).
It remains to be seen whether Robinson will command that significant of a payday, but sources tell Fischer the Bulls, Hornets, Lakers and Raptors are all considered potential suitors for the 28-year-old big man, who’s a strong, versatile defender and an elite rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass.
Chicago could have up to $56MM in cap room this offseason and Los Angeles could choose to operate under the cap as well. The Hornets and Raptors appear likely to have the full mid-level exception (projected to be worth $64.7MM over four years) available. All four teams are “known to be looking for center upgrades,” according to Fischer.
Robinson’s playing time has been reduced somewhat in the playoffs in part because of his struggles at the charity stripe: he’s only converting 32.0% of his 3.3 free throws per game through 15 postseason appearances (14.1 minutes per contest).
Still, Robinson has been impactful when he’s not being intentionally fouled. He drew praise from head coach Mike Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns for his late-game defense on Victor Wembanyama following New York’s Game 2 victory over San Antonio, Fischer notes, and he stayed pretty healthy throughout 2025/26 (60 regular season games) after missing extended time in recent years due to injuries.
A former second-round pick, Robinson has spent all eight of his NBA seasons to this point with the Knicks, who selected him 36th overall in the 2018 draft. New York holds a 2-0 lead on San Antonio in the NBA Finals, with both victories coming on the road.
The Knicks have Robinson’s Bird rights and there’s technically nothing preventing them from re-signing him, though the team projects to be over the second tax apron next season if it chooses to go that route. Given Robinson’s importance to the Knicks’ success, it would certainly be difficult to replace him.
Thunder Won’t Look To Move Chet Holmgren
Chet Holmgren remains a fixture on the Thunder roster despite his underwhelming performance in the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City has no interest in dealing away Holmgren, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
While the Thunder face some difficult roster decisions over the next few weeks, including team options on Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Kenrich Williams, a Holmgren trade won’t be under consideration, says Fischer.
Holmgren was badly outplayed by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in the conference finals, as he averaged 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in the series. That included a Game 7 clunker in which he contributed just four points and four rebounds in 33 minutes.
Holmgren, who was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team this season and was the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, is entering the first year of a five-year maximum-salary extension. Fischer notes that Holmgren’s length and impact on defense, paired with his floor-spacing ability, is difficult to replace.
Oklahoma City could be active on the trade market but are more likely to make some moves regarding its draft picks. The Thunder hold the 12th, 17th, and 37th picks in this month’s draft. Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins could be dealt to help the team avoid the second tax apron, Fischer adds.
League sources tell Fischer that Oklahoma City remains unlikely to enter the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. While they have the young talent and draft picks to make a serious offer to the Bucks, Sam Presti isn’t the type of GM who would surrender that type of capital for a star player, particularly one already past the age of 30.
The Bucks are trending toward an Antetokounmpo trade between now and the draft because Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam essentially established such a timeline in early May.
Nets Two-Way Player E.J. Liddell Heading To Europe
Nets two-way player E.J. Liddell is apparently heading overseas to continue his career.
Greece’s Aris B.C. has reached a two-year deal with Liddell, with only the official announcement pending, according to Eurohoops’ Johnny Askounis. Liddell’s two-way deal, signed in September, covered just one season, so he was on track for free agency this summer.
Liddell appeared in 26 games, including five starts, with Brooklyn this season. He averaged 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field. He did most of his damage during five April contests, averaging 18.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during that stretch.
The 6’6” forward also appeared in 26 G League games with the Long Island Nets, averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 29.3 minutes per outing.
Liddell was the 41st overall pick in the 2022 draft but tore his ACL in the Summer League just a few weeks later, wiping out his rookie season. The 25-year-old appeared in just 20 NBA games for the Pelicans and Bulls before he joined the Nets.