Central Notes: Bucks, Bulls, Turner
While there’s reportedly increased skepticism that the Bucks and star Giannis Antetokounmpo will part ways this summer, there are plenty of questions facing the team regardless of whether he stays or leaves. Spotrac’s Keith Smith breaks down the many hurdles Milwaukee has to face in his offseason preview, writing that the team is in the unfortunate position of needing to prepare for two potential paths: one where the two-time MVP stays and one where he goes.
The Bucks have few assets to trade should Antetokounmpo decide to remain in Milwaukee, and it would be imperative to maximize the pieces still on the roster, given that any team with Giannis would surely still be attempting to compete for championships. Longtime Antetokounmpo running mate Brook Lopez is an unrestricted free agent and could probably be retained for somewhere around $15-18MM per season over two years, Smith speculates. Bobby Portis has a $13.4MM player option, and it’s unclear if he would command more than that on the market.
Retaining their minimum signings in Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Kevin Porter Jr. will be important, as they can all contribute as floor spacers, which is crucial when building a roster around Antetokounmpo. It’s unlikely that Pat Connaughton and Kyle Kuzma will receive contract extensions, and it’s possible the team looks to move them for more consistent contributors, Smith writes.
If Antetokounmpo does ask out, though, Smith expects all of the Bucks’ free agents to be on new teams come next season, though it’s highly likely Connaughton picks up his player option no matter what else happens.
We have more news from the Central Division:
- If the Bucks want to get more out of their marginal moves, they need to have better top-down organizational alignment, writes The Athletic’s Eric Nehm in his Bucks mailbag. Nehm identifies A.J. Green as one of the team’s few developmental successes, and points to head coach Doc Rivers‘ deliberate creation of a role for the shooting specialist as a key to that success. The Bucks need their head coach to take a similar approach to other players, notably Andre Jackson Jr., if they want to recreate that formula.
- The Bulls‘ outlook has improved since the end of the season based solely on the Eastern Conference weakening this summer, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. With the top two picks in the 2025 draft expected to end up on Western Conference teams, the Celtics looking at a restructuring season following Jayson Tatum‘s ruptured Achilles, and questions surrounding what the Cavaliers and Knicks will do following postseason defeats, Chicago could stand pat and still be back in postseason contention. However, the Bulls have decisions to make on trading or extending players like Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Coby White, who are all heading into the final year of their deals.
- The Pacers and starting center Myles Turner have mutual interest in coming to terms on a new deal, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter video link). Indiana hasn’t been a taxpayer since 2006, but after making deep playoff runs in back-to-back years, the club is willing to pay what it takes to keep its roster intact, says Charania. Jake Fischer of the Stein Line, who has previously reported that the Pacers are expected to re-sign Turner, confirms the ongoing mutual interest between the two sides.
Knicks Notes: Culture, Malone, Brunson, Towns
There’s a lot that can be learned about Knicks‘ relationship with former head coach Tom Thibodeau and his recent firing, through the lens of what makes certain business cultures particularly effective, organizational behavior professor Spencer Harrison writes for The Athletic.
Harrison points to a specific moment in the Knicks’ season as indicative of the larger institutional issues at play: a March statement from Mikal Bridges in which Bridges referenced having had discussions with Thibodeau about the starters’ minutes load, and Thibodeau’s subsequent denial of such a conversation taking place.
“As someone who studies the cultures of businesses and organizations, I found Thibodeau’s response telling. To me, it suggested a stubbornness and unwillingness to consider other options, as if the conversation wasn’t even worth having,” Spencer writes.
Spencer also refers to a study of creative teams employing generalists versus specialists and which tends to yield the maximum creative output. The conclusion of the study, according to Spencer, was that people who had been introduced to a variety of approaches tended to be more adaptable and creative in their problem-solving. That stands in stark contrast to the notoriously stubborn Thibodeau, whose methods have yielded a great deal of success, but have at times caused his teams to struggle to adapt on the fly.
However, Spencer warns that simply firing Thibodeau does not guarantee positive results for the Knicks. As he notes, there are plenty of examples in the business world of leadership changes not working because a newcomer wants to implement an entirely new philosophy and culture, rather than building on what the previous regime did right.
We have more Knicks notes:
- The Knicks should hire former Nuggets coach Michael Malone, opines Troy Renck of the Denver Post. While Malone’s tenure in Denver came to an abrupt end, Renck believes that his competitiveness, willingness to challenge his players, and media savvy would make him a great fit for the Knicks, who generally require their coach to serve as the main point of contact for the media. However, Renck does note that many of the frustrations with Thibodeau, including his over-reliance on starters and lack of trust in non-established bench players, are present with Malone as well, which could make for a complicated dynamic for a team looking to adjust its approach.
- Jalen Brunson offered his first take on the Thibodeau firing, albeit in a “pictures are worth a thousand words” manner, writes the New York Post’s Bryan Fonseca. The star point guard posted a photo of himself and the recently fired coach on Instagram with two emojis: a white heart and a hand with its fingers crossed. It was a characteristically understated response from Brunson, who had previously gone to bat for Thibodeau. Following the end of the team’s playoff run, Brunson was quoted as saying, “Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy. Yes. Come on,” when asked if Thibodeau was the right coach for the job. This was his first public comment following the firing.
- Last summer’s trade between the Knicks and Timberwolves represented one of the rarest things in the NBA: a true win-win deal, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski and James Edwards III. The Knicks needed a center after free agent Isaiah Hartenstein left for Oklahoma City and Mitchell Robinson‘s injury rehabilitation took longer than expected. Meanwhile, the Wolves were dealing with a complicated salary cap situation for a roster they weren’t sure could sustain itself as a title contender. While the two stars headlining the deal, Karl-Anthony Towns for the Wolves and Julius Randle for the Knicks, were both shocked by the news, especially so close to training camp, both players ended up adjusting to their new surroundings — and both ended up in their respective Conference Finals. “I think if you had asked either front office last year, ‘Hey, worst-case scenario, you’ll lose in the conference finals?’ I think we’d have probably taken it even though we both have higher aspirations,” Wolves president Tim Connelly said.
Pistons Notes: Free Agents, Trades, Offseason Priorities, Thompson
Rival teams expect the Pistons to be players in the free agent market this summer, writes Jake Fischer for The Stein Line (Substack link). They have the ability to create around $17MM in cap space if they choose to operate below the salary cap, a decision which could help shed light on the team’s roster-construction plans moving forward.
Fischer writes that the Pistons are looking at different options, including renting out space as a third team in bigger deals in order to accumulate assets or continuing to add veteran talent, a path that helped the team achieve a good measure of success this season.
Fischer also confirms prior reporting that much of Detroit’s focus has revolved around shooting big men such as Myles Turner and Naz Reid — he also adds Grizzlies restricted free agent Santi Aldama to the list of possible Pistons targets. However, Fischer says teams around the league are expecting all three of those bigs to remain with their current clubs.
There’s also the question of Detroit’s own free agents. Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schröder, and Malik Beasley are all unrestricted free agents this summer, and with Jaden Ivey set to return from injury, it’s unclear how many backcourt minutes will be available for all three. Fischer believes Hardaway is the least likely of those free agents to return. Beasley and the Pistons have expressed mutual interest in finding a new deal, and Schröder was a hugely valuable piece for Detroit, especially in the playoffs.
We have more Pistons notes:
- The Pistons have the pieces to go big-name hunting for the first time in many years, writes Omari Sankofa II for the Detroit Free Press (subscription required). They have up to four tradable first-round picks, 15 second-rounders, and a combination of young, promising players and established veterans. However, with many teams similarly stocked with trade assets, making a blockbuster trade would likely mean paying a significant price, Sankofa writes in a column breaking down three potential deals the Pistons could consider. The first name he considers is the Suns’ Devin Booker, suggesting that a package might consist of Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and a massive combination of first- and second-round picks. He also looks at what it could take to land either Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaren Jackson Jr. The question the Pistons have to decide is whether Cade Cunningham‘s ascendance requires an acceleration of the team-building timeline.
- In a mailbag, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com breaks down the team’s priorities this offseason. The level to which Detroit succeeds next year depends, for the most part, on internal development, he writes. That includes Thompson experiencing his first healthy NBA offseason, Iver getting back to 100%, and players like Ron Holland II and Jalen Duren further honing their skill sets. Langlois also points to Cunningham becoming a more consistent three-point shooter and finding ways to cut down the turnovers as key points of emphasis.
- In the same mailbag, Langlois discusses which area is more important for Thompson moving forward — shooting or play-making. While a reliable jump shot would put Thompson over the top, Langlois believes that play-making is an area in which the athletic forward can find a great deal of value as he continues trying to develop his individual scoring. He points to a supercharged Josh Hart as a blueprint for how Thompson could find success as a defender, passer, and rebounder, and adds that in terms of the two options, the Pistons guard has a stronger base as a secondary play-maker to build off than he does as a shooter.
Thunder Notes: Offseason, Mitchell, Caruso, Daigneault
While the Thunder look to avoid dropping a second straight game to the Pacers in Sunday’s Game 2 Finals matchup, teams around the league are eyeing Oklahoma City’s roster construction with interest, writes Jake Fischer for The Stein Line (Substack link).
That’s not just because of the success general manager Sam Presti has had building a small-market powerhouse, but also because the team currently has the maximum 15 players under contract for next season while holding three top-45 picks in the 2025 draft, two of which are first-rounders (Nos. 15 and 24).
Fischer writes that the team has a unique level of flexibility that could allow it to make any number of roster moves. That could include declining rookie guard Ajay Mitchell‘s team option and bringing him back on a two-way contract, which would require some level of trust from Mitchell. It could also mean packaging picks to move up into the lottery, and Fischer reports that some teams in that range of the draft are expecting that possibility to present itself. The Thunder could also trade out of the draft, rather than up, to continue accumulating future draft assets and delay making a decision.
The Thunder are already set to add last year’s lottery pick Nikola Topic to the rotation after he missed the entirety of the 2024/25 season, so in addition to roster spots, there’s also a question of how many minutes will be available for first-year players next year.
We have more Thunder news:
- Speaking of Mitchell, the former second-round pick’s inclusion in the Game 1 rotation for the Thunder was somewhat unexpected, considering he had only played 64 playoff minutes heading into the Finals. However, that was what made it such a Thunder move, writes Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. The team prides itself on its next-man-up approach, and on Thursday night, that meant Mitchell seeing the first Finals action of his nascent career. “I don’t think there’s more nervousness, I think maybe more excitement just because it’s the Finals. But at the end of the day, it’s basketball. Once you step on the court, there’s nothing really else that matters. When I step on the floor, it’s just basketball,” Mitchell said.
- Alex Caruso‘s journey to the NBA Finals began with a 2016 audition for an Exhibit 10 contract, a workout that quickly showed who he would become as a basketball player and teammate, writes ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “By midway through the workout, he’s coaching the workout. He’s doing what he does,” coach Mark Daigneault said. But even the oft-lauded Presti didn’t quite know what he had in the versatile defender, and Caruso eventually left for the Lakers without ever having been called up from the Thunder’s G League affiliate. It’s fitting that now, as a 31-year-old veteran with championship pedigree, he has returned to where it all began to help his former coach and organization, both on the court and as a mentor to the cadre of young, defensive-minded guards on the roster.
- Daigneault has taken a lion’s share of the blame for Oklahoma City’s Game 1 collapse against the Pacers, who once again came back miraculously to steal Game 1 on the road. While it’s natural to look for a target for blame after such a dramatic letdown, SI’s Rylan Stiles writes that putting it all on the head coach isn’t the right way to look at it. While changing the starting lineup that had gotten the team to the Finals before Game 1 was a controversial decision, the starting unit wasn’t why they lost the game, Stiles writes, and neither was playing Mitchell. While Daigneault could have, and probably should have, brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back into the game sooner in the fourth quarter or experimented with double-big lineups, the team’s second and third options, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, ultimately weren’t good enough. If either had played even slightly better, Stiles writes, the Thunder would be up 1-0 and none of these questions would be popping up at all.
- There are specific things the Thunder can do to ensure the end of Game 2 doesn’t play out as it did in Game 1, writes ESPN’s Zack Kram. The first thing is to put Game 1 out of their heads completely — something the Knicks seemed to struggle to do after losing Game 1 against the Pacers in similarly deflating fashion. As Stiles wrote, Williams and Holmgren need to step up, as they did against the Timberwolves, especially as the team sacrifices size and rebounding to keep up with the Pacers’ frenetic pace. They also need to move the ball quicker and not devolve into stagnant offensive possessions around Gilgeous-Alexander isolations. Indiana is counting on the MVP scoring, but Oklahoma City can hurt the Pacers by getting the supporting cast involved.
Cooper Flagg To Visit Mavericks On June 17
Next Tuesday will be Flagg day in Dallas. Cooper Flagg will meet with the Mavericks brass on June 17, eight days before Dallas is expected to make the Duke freshman forward to the No. 1 pick in the draft, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Jonathan Givony.
Marc Stein reported on Saturday that Flagg would visit Dallas prior to the draft and now there’s a firm date for his arrival.
The Mavericks held the winning combination in the lottery despite having just a 1.8 percent chance of getting the top pick. Flagg has been the projected No. 1 choice even before he donned a Blue Devils uniform and only enhanced his status with a stellar one-and-done season. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 48.1 percent overall and 38.5 percent on three-point attempts.
The Mavericks have no plans to work out any other prospects for the top pick. They have not wavered on their desire to select Flagg, who will be the new face of their franchise, nor have they shown any interest in trading the top pick. Flagg is not planning to conduct any additional visits.
Flagg will slot into a jumbo frontcourt that includes Anthony Davis at the four and either Dereck Lively or Daniel Gafford in the middle.
Pacers Notes: Defense, Haliburton, Carlisle, Boucek
The Thunder have been praised for their defensive prowess and depth but the Pacers have those same attributes, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm and Shakeia Taylor note. Throughout the playoffs, the Pacers have been using what they call the “wear-down effect,” in which they use their depth and speed to carry out their defensive coverages and apply full-court pressure. That leads to key stops and uncharacteristic late-game decisions by their opponents.
It helped them during their unlikely rally in Game 1.
“We want to make it hard,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Each game in the series is going to look different. A playoff series is a series of seven chapters, you know, and each one takes on a different personality.”
Here’s more on the Pacers as they head into tonight’s Game 2 with a 1-0 series lead:
- Tyrese Haliburton not only hit the game-winning shot on Thursday but scouts interviewed by Grant Afseth of RG.org noted how the Pacers star adjusted as the game progressed. He appeared to be in a feeling-out process in the first half but his mindset clearly shifted during the second half. “That’s growth,” one Eastern Conference assistant coach told Afseth. “You don’t wait until the fourth quarter to flip a switch—he came out in the third quarter and changed the tone.”
- Haliburton is carrying out the vision that Carlisle had when the head coach returned for a second stint with Indiana. Jared Weiss of The Athletic details their partnership and how the relationship between coach and star player has evolved. “I think that it got to the point for me where when you’re young, establishing yourself in the NBA, you’re kind of working your way through things and trying to figure out where you stand in the league,” Haliburton said. “Where I’m at now, I’m really comfortable in my own skin. I feel like I’ve really started to establish myself in this league.”
- Former Heat coach Ron Rothstein played an important mentoring role in Jenny Boucek‘s coaching career, as Ira Winderman of he South Florida Sun Sentinel details. Boucek was an assistant with the WNBA’s Miami Sol in the early 2000s. Boucek is now one of Carlisle’s top assistants. Carlisle says that Boucek is a “great communicator” and also brings a lot of positive energy to the staff and team.
Don Nelson Chosen For Lifetime Achievement Award By NBCA
Don Nelson has been selected for the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Basketball Coaches Association announced via a press release (Twitter link).
Nelson is already a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as one of only two coaches in NBA history to lead three teams to at least 250 wins. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, the NBCA president, said via a statement that Nelson was also one of the league’s greatest innovators.
“History has already reflected Don Nelson’s staggering contributions as a cutting-edge innovator and visionary of the NBA game,” Carlisle stated. “Back in the ’80s and ’90s, he made teams adjust to historic pace, liberal 3-point shooting, inverted offense, and disruptive defensive schemes. All this while establishing himself as one of the most compelling personalities in all of professional sports. I’m certain that Chuck Daly would agree that our beloved ‘Nellie’ is most deserving of this prestigious recognition.”
Nelson served as an NBA head coach for 31 seasons with the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks. During his career, he amassed a 1,335-1063 (.557) record and currently ranks second all-time in wins and games coached (2,398).
“I’m extremely grateful and humbled to receive this incredible honor and join the exclusive list of coaches who have preceded me,” Nelson said. “Chuck Daly was a dear friend of mine and someone I respected immensely due to his class, character, and of course, his coaching ability. He may not have influenced my wardrobe, but Chuck certainly had a lasting impact on my coaching philosophy, style, and most importantly, how I managed the personalities on a roster. Chuck was an absolute genius in all facets of the game and life. I’m glad I had the opportunity to coach against him, learn from him, and benefit from his knowledge. To say that I’m deeply touched to receive an award that bears his name would be an understatement. This is special.”
During his playing career, Nelson helped the Celtics win five championships (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, and 1976) and was an “iron man” who appeared in 465 consecutive games. Nelson began his coaching career in 1976 and retired in 2010 after a stint with Golden State.
Nelson also served as head coach of the 1994 U.S. National Team (Dream Team II) at the FIBA World Championship. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012.
The NBCA award is determined annually by a selection committee. Rudy Tomjanovich was last year’s recipient.
Nuggets Notes: Porter, GM Candidates, Durant, Repeater Tax
The Nuggets might explore trades involving Michael Porter Jr. this summer, but the most likely scenario has him returning for at least one more season, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post states in a mailbag column. The 26-year-old forward has been the frequent target of trade speculation, but Durando believes he has more value to Denver than he would to any rival team.
Durando notes that team president Josh Kroenke has indicated that he wants to keep the current core together, recently saying, “I think a lot of our answers are internal right now.” That means fans probably shouldn’t expect Porter or any other significant rotation player to be moved this offseason unless the Nuggets receive an offer that’s too good to pass up.
Porter dealt with health concerns early in his career, but he’s been very reliable lately, appearing in 81 and 77 games the past two seasons. He averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists this year with .504/.395/.768 shooting splits, giving Denver a potent outside shooting threat with plenty of experience playing alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Durando notes that Denver’s cap situation will become more strained in the 2026/27 season when Gordon will receive a $9MM raise and Christian Braun will likely have a new deal in place. Porter will be an expiring contract by then, so Durando sees a trade as more likely to happen next summer.
There’s more from Denver:
- Interim general manager Ben Tenzer appears to be the leading candidate to fill that role on a permanent basis, Durando adds in the same piece. Tenzer has been handling all the GM duties since Calvin Booth was fired, and Kroenke has complimented his performance. Durando views Minnesota general manager Matt Lloyd as the likely alternative if Tenzer isn’t hired.
- In a separate story, Durando expresses skepticism that the Nuggets can land Kevin Durant, but he lists a few potential trades just in case the Suns star decides he wants to team up with Jokic. One of Durando’s ideas involves Jamal Murray, another includes a combination of Porter and Braun, and a third features a combination of Gordon and Porter. All three options would require a third team because neither Denver or Phoenix can take back more salary than it sends out in a trade.
- The Nuggets will become subject to the repeater tax next season, more than doubling their current tax bill to a projected $42.9MM, cap expert Yossi Gozlan observes in his Third Apron Substack column (subscription required). Gozlan also notes that the team has limited draft assets to offer in trades, making it harder to get rid of unwanted contracts. Denver owns five of its first-round picks over the next seven years, but is only able to trade one in either 2031 or 2032. The only second-round pick the club has available to trade is in 2032.
Sixers Notes: Yabusele, Draft, Oubre, Grimes, McCain
Guerschon Yabusele accepted a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Sixers when he decided to return to the NBA, and his performance on that deal has him positioned for a much bigger payday this summer as an unrestricted free agent. The 29-year-old power forward talked about his experience during a recent interview with Basketball Network (hat tip to Souichi Terada of MassLive).
“The main thing, for me, when I decided to go back to the NBA was to enjoy this time,” Yabusele said. “Because the first time, when it stopped, and you realize it’s done fast. It took me five years to come back. So I really decided the main thing was to go over there to enjoy and gain that experience and try to get better. I was happy that I was able to perform.”
Yabusele was a first-round pick by the Celtics in 2016 and came stateside a year later, but he wasn’t able to earn consistent playing time during his two seasons in Boston. He developed into a star with Real Madrid in the EuroLeague, then rekindled NBA interest with a strong showing while representing France in last year’s Summer Olympics.
Philadelphia had a difficult season, but team-wide injury woes gave Yabusele plenty of opportunity to display his skills. He appeared in 70 games, making 43 starts and averaging 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.1 minutes per night with .501/.380/.725 shooting numbers.
“It was a good season,” he said. “All the ups and downs. I was able to go out there and really experience, for the first time, being in the league.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- The Sixers’ decision with the No. 3 pick will have huge implications for the teams drafting directly behind them, notes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Rutgers forward Ace Bailey is frequently linked with Philadelphia in mock drafts, but Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe and Texas guard Tre Johnson could be in the mix as well, with some scouts viewing them as better long-term prospects than Bailey. The Sixers may also consider trading down — one executive told Pompey that a couple of teams slotted after Philadelphia are conducting “heavy research” on the possibility of moving up to No. 3.
- In the same piece, Pompey states that forward Kelly Oubre is expected to pick up his $8.3MM player option for next season. That echoes a report from Marc Stein last month. Pompey also hears that the Sixers are optimistic about their chances of re-signing free agent guard Quentin Grimes, who averaged 21.9 PPG after being acquired from Dallas in February.
- Rookie guard Jared McCain covered Game 1 of the NBA Finals as part of the league’s Player Correspondent Program. The endeavor provides experience for players who may be interested in media careers after retirement. Miami’s Jaime Jaquez, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels and Chicago’s Matas Buzelis are also participating this year.
Goodwill: Dolan Spearheaded Thibodeau’s Dismissal
Contrary to previous reports that Knicks president Leon Rose made the decision to fire Tom Thibodeau, sources tell Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports that owner James Dolan spearheaded the move.
Dolan and Rose both held exit meetings with the team’s top players and members of the coaching staff after New York was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals. Goodwill hears that Dolan handled the questioning in those meetings, while Rose was in more of a support role. Sources also tell Goodwill that Dolan has never been a strong supporter of Thibodeau during his five seasons with the team.
According to Goodwill’s sources, at least two players complained that Thibodeau gave too many minutes to his starters and wasn’t willing to adjust that philosophy to changing circumstances. That has been a frequent criticism of Thibodeau throughout his career, dating back to his days as a head coach in Chicago and Minnesota.
Another player reportedly told Dolan and Rose that he didn’t feel like he could play another season under Thibodeau.
Thibodeau’s failure to develop a reliable bench was evident in the playoffs, particularly against a fast-paced Indiana team that has now eliminated the Knicks two straight years. Thibodeau’s insertion of Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup in Game 2 of the conference finals and his decision to give expanded minutes to Landry Shamet and Delon Wright could be viewed as desperation moves.
Thibodeau still had three years and $30MM left on his contract, and Goodwill emphasizes that he was fired because Dolan wanted to make a change, not because he failed to reach the NBA Finals.