Bucks Notes: Giannis, Celtics, Cavs, Jenkins, More
People around the league continue to believe that regaining control of their own draft capital is likely to appeal to the Bucks in any potential trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). That could bode well for the involvement of the Trail Blazers, who control Milwaukee’s three drafts from 2028-30.
Jaylen Brown recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Celtics after his mentor Tracy McGrady suggested the veteran wing was frustrated in Boston. While Fischer says there has been some speculation about a Brown-for-Giannis trade, he hears the Celtics only expressed “cursory interest” in Antetokounmpo ahead of the February deadline.
Fischer “never got the sense” that Boston was a real suitor for Giannis and also never got the impression that the two-time MVP was intrigued by the possibility of joining the Celtics. But if a deal involving those two players did come to pass, rival teams believe the Bucks would look to involve other teams to acquire additional assets for Brown, rather than keeping him for themselves.
Here are a few more rumors and notes related to the Bucks:
- The Celtics may or may not be a suitor for Giannis, but people around the league think the Cavaliers could be if they fail to advance past the second round of the playoffs, Fischer writes. Sources tell The Stein Line that Cleveland contacted Milwaukee about the 31-year-old power forward ahead of the deadline and the Bucks asked for Evan Mobley and all of the Cavs’ available draft capital. As Fischer notes, Donovan Mitchell‘s contract situation is very similar to Antetokounmpo’s — he’ll be extension-eligible this offseason and could be a free agent in 2027 if he declines his 2027/28 player option.
- General manager Jon Horst told reporters — including Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription required) — that Antetokounmpo didn’t meet with new head coach Taylor Jenkins during the team’s interview process, but the two have spoken. For what it’s worth, Antetokounmpo told Owczarski he endorsed the move. Jenkins is a former Bucks assistant who was the Grizzlies’ head coach for six years prior to being let go at the end of 2024/25. “I think he’s an incredible person,” Antetokounmpo said of Jenkins. “Obviously, he’s an incredible coach. I was able to be with him in 2019 and we made the Eastern Conference Finals. After that he left, he was one of the first coaches that left the coaching staff and went to Memphis and he had an incredible six years in Memphis. He made them contenders in the West. He had incredible culture in Memphis. I had the conversation. I don’t think Milwaukee is just getting just a good coach, I think they’re getting a good person. And that’s where it starts with. Having a good person around that’s gonna be able to set the tone, that set the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball is all about. He’s a really good coach.”
- In a separate subscriber-only story, Owczarski passes along some highlights from Jenkins’ introductory press conference, which also featured Horst and co-owner Jimmy Haslam. Jenkins said his one-year stint in Milwaukee and his respect for Horst played critical roles in his decision to rejoin the Bucks. “When this opportunity became available, I was like, I know the people,” Jenkins said as part of a larger quote. “I know what they stand for. I know what their standards are going to be on a day-to-day basis, and naturally, as we navigated this past season as a family – got to spend a lot of great quality time with them – we were very intentional about the things that matter to us, both personally and professionally. And the people, that’s the thing that really gravitated us back here to Milwaukee.”
Haslam: Bucks Hope To Resolve Giannis Situation By 2026 Draft
After one Bucks co-owner – Wes Edens – told ESPN in March that the team figures to either trade or extend Giannis Antetokounmpo in the coming year, another one of the team’s co-owners – Jimmy Haslam – said on Wednesday that he’d like to see the team reach a resolution on Antetokounmpo by next month’s draft.
“I just think before the draft is a natural time, right? Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, then we ought to get a lot of assets, and it’s (general manager Jon Horst‘s) job to do it,” Haslam said, per Karley Marotta of TMJ4 News (Twitter video link). “If he’s here, then you build the team differently.”
Rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo have been persistent since last summer and only intensified during the season, even after the two-time MVP stayed put through the trade deadline. Giannis and the Bucks clashed publicly on multiple occasions. The two sides were at odds over his ability to return to action following a knee injury, and Antetokounmpo took exception to those aforementioned remarks made by Edens.
For his part, Haslam downplayed the notion that there’s a rift between the team and its longtime superstar.
“I just want to stress that our relationship with him, despite what is reported by certain ESPN writers, is very positive,” Haslam said.
He also reiterated the team’s respect and appreciation for everything Antetokounmpo has done for the franchise, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
“Giannis has brought Milwaukee its second championship and the first in 50 years,” Haslam said. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal person. He’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world, and we will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization. We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks.”
There are already teams preparing trade packages for Antetokounmpo, including the Trail Blazers. Many more made offers at last season’s trade deadline, such as the Magic, who were reportedly “very active” in pursuit of the Greek forward. The Heat, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Knicks were also said to be in the mix leading up to February’s deadline.
The star forward has resisted outright demanding a trade and hasn’t ruled out signing an extension with the only NBA team he’s played for, though he doesn’t become extension-eligible until October. That could complicate plans to reach a resolution next month — while Giannis could let the team know in June whether or not he plans to sign a new deal in October, he may want a more complete picture of Milwaukee’s offseason roster moves before he makes that sort of commitment.
Haslam stressed that he and the rest of the front office and ownership understand the magnitude of the decision for the franchise and how important it is to get right. He also added that there was transparency during the lead-up to the hiring of new head coach Taylor Jenkins.
“We didn’t hold back with Taylor,” he said. “We just said, ‘Listen, (Antetokounmpo) may or may not be with us, so don’t come because of that,’ because you want to be straight up with people.”
While Edens is technically the Bucks’ governor, the franchise has an unusual ownership arrangement that sees he and Haslam swap that title every five years. Haslam will take over as governor in 2028.
Rockets Notes: Durant, Offseason Plans, Sheppard, Harden
Injuries to Fred VanVleet in September and Steven Adams in the midst of the season affected the Rockets far beyond their on-court contributions, according to Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon of ESPN. With their two veteran leaders not in the lineup, there were fewer buffers against Kevin Durant‘s “moodiness,” which had an effect on the team’s younger players as the season wore on, sources tell the authors.
Durant provided the elite-level scorer that Houston was lacking during last year’s playoff appearance and was the team’s top player throughout the season, averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 78 games. However, the fit behind the scenes became “increasingly complex,” according to Shelburne and MacMahon, highlighted by a burner scandal that emerged during the All-Star break.
A Twitter profile allegedly belonging to Durant posted several messages criticizing current teammates Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. along with former teammates Devin Booker and Stephen Curry, as well as Steve Kerr, Durant’s coach during his time with Golden State. Durant called the situation “Twitter nonsense,” but sources tell the authors that the team took the posts seriously and believed Durant was associated with them at the very least. Durant addressed the controversy after the break in “more of a team discussion than a meeting” before moving onto other topics, and a Rockets source told Shelburne and MacMahon that the team moved past it.
“I’ve heard that there were a couple people who were bothered by what he said on the burner account but none of them were in our locker room,” the source said. “I think Kevin might’ve been worried about it being a distraction to the team. But literally no one cared about it. The guys [he] mentioned are not sensitive about stuff said about them online.”
There’s more from Houston:
- The Rockets traded for Durant last summer because his price became low enough that they considered it affordable, not because they’re looking to move on from the young core they assembled over the previous four drafts, Shelburne and MacMahon add. After this year’s first-round exit, there has been speculation that Houston might try to deal for another star such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard or Donovan Mitchell, but a high-ranking team source downplayed that possibility, saying the organization will be “opportunistic” this summer but hopes to follow Oklahoma City’s example and build a long-term contender around its young talent without making a blockbuster trade. “We aren’t thinking, ‘We’ve got to win now because we’re in KD’s window,'” the source said. “We are hyper-focused on our young core. Our five guys have a chance to win a lot of games together for a long time. We don’t want to make the mistake other teams have of giving up on guys too soon. We want a 10-year run.”
- The Rockets remain high on Reed Sheppard‘s long-term potential despite an up-and-down performance in this year’s playoffs, according to the authors. The team believes he could develop into an all-time great point guard in the mold of Steve Nash, which is why he was selected ahead of Stephon Castle in the 2024 draft. There’s less confidence around the league, with one scout comparing Sheppard more to Kerr than Nash.
- There has been mutual interest in a reunion with James Harden several times since he forced his way out of Houston in 2021, and sources tell Shelburne and MacMahon that Harden and his representatives explored a return this season after his Clippers team got off to a 6-21 start. There’s still affection for Harden in the organization, but Rockets officials were concerned that his presence might limit the development of Sengun, Sheppard and Amen Thompson. “We’re not really looking for a heliocentric player, as great as James still is,” a team source said. “We want to develop Reed, we want to develop Amen and we want the ball in Alpy’s hands.”
Blazers Interested In Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis
The Trail Blazers appear to be on the upswing after making the playoffs for the first time in five years. They also have a new owner in Tom Dundon, who has drawn plenty of scrutiny for the cost-cutting measures he implemented while Portland was in the postseason.
Although Dundon has reportedly ruffled some feathers around the league, particularly in regards to the team’s coaching search, he has developed a reputation during his time with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes as a team owner who is willing to spend on players. Dundon also suggested at his introductory press conference that he would be “more aggressive than most” in pursuit of star talent.
Dundon said at the time that general manager Joe Cronin considered making a “big splash” trade ahead of the deadline. Cronin said a couple days ago that the team was intrigued by the possibility of making a major move, but “only at the right price point.”
With all that in mind, multiple league sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) that the Trail Blazers are “expected to emerge as a prime trade suitor” this summer for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP who was limited to just 36 games played this season due to injuries.
Fischer and his colleague Marc Stein reported in late January that the Blazers were among the teams interested in the Greek star. While the feeling at the time was that Portland may have been more motivated to help facilitate a multi-team Giannis trade, Fischer heard this week that the Blazers are just as motivated as other potential Antetokounmpo suitors to acquire him outright.
Despite the team’s interest, Portland may not be high on Antetokounmpo’s list of desired destinations if he pushes for a trade this summer, Fischer writes, so selling him on a long-term future with the team could be difficult.
According to Fischer’s sources, a potential trade offer for Giannis would be built around the contract of Jerami Grant, who’s owed about $70.6MM over the next two seasons. Additional salaries would have to be added to make the deal legal, Fischer notes.
If the Blazers are unable to acquire Antetokounmpo, Wizards big man Anthony Davis is considered a fallback option, sources close to the situation tell Fischer.
Portland talked to Dallas during the season about a possible Davis deal centered around Grant and unspecified draft capital, per Fischer, but the Mavs were more interested in clearing their books, which is why they preferred — and ultimately accepted — Washington’s package that featured Khris Middleton‘s sizable expiring salary.
Davis raised doubts at his first media availability as a Wizard last month about the Washington’s ability to quickly go from the worst team in the league to a contender. NBA insider Chris Haynes recently said on SiriusXM NBA Radio that he wouldn’t be shocked if Davis is traded again this offseason before he ever plays in D.C., and Fischer has heard similar rumblings (Twitter video link).
“I do think there’s a good chance that he may end up somewhere else by the time next season starts,” Haynes said.
Antetokounmpo, 31, and Davis, 33, could be free agents in 2027. Both players will be extension-eligible before next season begins and hold player options for ’27/28.
Scotto’s Latest: Giannis, Magic, Mavs, Connelly, Bulls, Nori, More
The Magic expressed interest in Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of this year’s trade deadline, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, confirming remarks that Kirk Goldsberry made on The Bill Simmons podcast last month. Goldsberry stated during that podcast appearance that Orlando had been “very active” in pursuing Antetokounmpo.
While Scotto doesn’t specify just how serious the Magic’s interest was, he notes that Antetokounmpo was originally drafted in Milwaukee by then-GM John Hammond, who currently serves as a senior advisor in Orlando. Hammond and Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman have long prioritized length and size when considering roster moves, Scotto adds.
It remains to be seen whether the Magic will revisit a potential Antetokounmpo trade this summer — the team’s approach to the offseason figures to hinge in part on how their playoff run ends. For what it’s worth, Scotto hears from league sources that Antetokounmpo and new Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins are believed to have a good relationship.
Here are a few more highlights from Scotto’s latest round-up of NBA intel:
- Scotto is the latest to confirm there’s a strong belief in league circles that the Mavericks are eyeing Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly as a top candidate to run their front office. The Wolves have registered interest in locking up Connelly to a contract extension that keeps him in Minnesota for the foreseeable future, Scotto reports.
- If the Bulls end up hiring Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd to run their front office, watch out for Wolves assistant Micah Nori to emerge as a strong candidate for Chicago’s head coaching job, Scotto advises. Lloyd is rumored to be a finalist and a frontrunner to become the Bulls’ new head of basketball operations.
- The Wizards intend to promote their G League head coach, Cody Toppert, to an assistant role on Brian Keefe‘s staff for the 2026/27 season, according to Scotto. Toppert has some prior experience as an NBA assistant coach in Phoenix under Igor Kokoskov.
- As the Lakers make front office changes under new team owner Mark Walter, they’re looking to add at least one assistant general manager and possibly another high-ranking executive, per Scotto. Those execs would presumably work under president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, who is expected to remain in his current role.
- The Pacers intend to promote director of college scouting Mike Born to help fill the void in the front office created by the departure of senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Carr earlier this year, league sources tell Scotto.
Northwest Notes: Dosunmu, Jokic, Blazers, Jazz
When the Timberwolves traded for Ayo Dosunmu, his upcoming free agency was a lingering question, given how expensive Minnesota’s roster already is. Dosunmu’s playoff performance so far, highlighted by his 43-point outing in the team’s Game 4 victory on Saturday, is only making that conversation more interesting, Joe Cowley writes for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Dosunmu said he recently spoke with recently dismissed Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas and gained closure regarding the trade that sent him to Minnesota. With the Wolves facing a cap crunch, Cowley wonders whether Dosunmu might be interested in a reunion with Chicago. While the guard didn’t close the door on that possibility, he indicated that he’s appreciating the opportunity to compete in the playoffs with his new team and will prioritize Minnesota in free agency.
“Everything is on the table when you’re a free agent,” Dosunmu said. “That’s the main thing about being a free agent — you listen. You have conversations with whoever is interested. I’ll sit down with my family, and you have those conversations about where the next duration of my career will be, but Minnesota has shown me love here. I love the love I’ve been getting from the coaching staff, the fans, the players. So of course Minnesota will have the first dibs to do right and make me feel at home where I won’t even have to go out and entertain (other offers).”
While Saturday’s victory was marred by the emotions of the Wolves losing both Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles tear) and Anthony Edwards (knee hyperextension), Dosunmu’s heroics gave the team the lift it needed to take a commanding series lead, Marcus Thompson II writes for The Athletic.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- The Nuggets know they’ve dug themselves into a hole by going down 3-1 to Minnesota, but star Nikola Jokic is counting on the team’s extensive playoff experience to help them right the ship, Vinny Benedetto writes for the Denver Gazette. “We’ve been in this situation before. The most important one is the next one,” Jokic said. “We’re going to go home and (then) try to get the series back here.” The Nuggets have come back from a 3-1 deficit multiple times during Jokic’s time with the franchise, the first being against Rudy Gobert‘s Jazz back in the bubble in 2020.
- The Trail Blazers have worked hard to return to playoff relevance, and injured star Damian Lillard says the team is closer to taking the next step than people may think, Bill Oram writes for Oregon Live. “It’s all there,” Lillard said. “From the talent to the depth, to having it on both sides of the ball. It’s all there.” While speculation abounds as to whether the three-point champion could return during this postseason run, the front office is also reportedly setting its sights high this offseason, as it is prepared to put a compelling trade offer together for Giannis Antetokounmpo if the two-time MVP indicates he’d be willing to sign an extension in Portland, Oram reports. That is a large “if,” though, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports says, calling the idea of Antetokounmpo making such a promise highly unlikely, if only for the gauntlet he would have to face in the Western Conference playoffs for years to come.
- While the 2026 playoffs rage on, the Jazz are more focused on the draft lottery coming up on May 10. However, there are still reasons for them to pay attention to the postseason, one of which is the draft compensation the Cavaliers still owe them due to the Donovan Mitchell trade, The Deseret News’ Sarah Todd writes. The Cavs are currently tied 2-2 with the Raptors in the first round, with Mitchell eligible for an extension this offseason. While the star guard recently reiterated his desire to stay in Cleveland, a disappointing playoff exit could have ripple effects that impact the Jazz’s future draft assets.
Warriors Rumors: Kerr, Melton, Stars, Post, Horford
The “general belief” both within the organization and around the NBA is that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is more likely to step down from his current position than to sign a new contract to remain in Golden State, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Poole reports that Kerr will meet with team owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. to discuss his future and that the expectation is his decision will come in a matter of days, rather than weeks.
While it sounds like Kerr is leaning toward ending his run with the Warriors, he has left the door open to returning. For that to happen, Poole suggests the veteran coach would need to have “renewed faith in his role as the franchise shifts toward the future.” Kerr’s decision won’t be based on money, Poole adds.
“They could offer Steve $25 million a year and I doubt that alone would make a difference,” one league source told NBC Sports Bay Area.
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- According to Nick Friedell and Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Golden State was operating for most of the season as if it would be tough to bring back De’Anthony Melton, since he seemed likely to decline his $3.5MM player option in favor of a much more lucrative offer that the Warriors wouldn’t be able to match using the guard’s Non-Bird rights. However, an up-and-down finish to the season may hurt Melton’s market and make a return to Golden State more viable. For his part, the 27-year-old said on Monday that he’d “most definitely” like to stay with the Warriors but that he’ll “leave that type of stuff up to my agent and upstairs,” per Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area.
- Although the Warriors reportedly offered several future first-round picks for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo prior to February’s trade deadline, one team source who spoke to Friedell and Thompson said the front office isn’t planning on giving up several future assets to load up on veterans for 2026/27. Noting that Golden State was the most aggressive suitor for Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard prior to the deadline, Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) posits that the team may be less inclined to pursue a veteran star like Giannis or Kawhi this offseason if Kerr doesn’t return.
- A restricted free agent this summer, Quinten Post said on Monday that he hopes to remain with the Warriors, per Friedell (Twitter link). Post, who is recovering from a foot injury, added that he thinks he’s about two weeks away from resuming on-court work and hopes to play for the Dutch national team this summer.
- Warriors big man Al Horford explained in greater detail on Monday why he left Boston last summer to sign with Golden State. Brian Robb of MassLive has the story and the quotes from Horford, who holds a $6MM player option for ’26/27.
Central Notes: Giannis, Strus, Wade, Walker, Pacers
Although this wasn’t the first time in his 13-year NBA career that Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself involved in trade rumors, he admitted during a recent appearance on Gogi’s Garage (YouTube link) that he wasn’t ready for just how persistent they would become over the course of the 2025/26 season.
Antetokounmpo spoke publicly about his desire to stay with the Bucks, but he consistently added caveats to those statements, suggesting that competing for a title is his top priority and that he only wants to remain in Milwaukee if the team is capable of doing so. The two-time MVP ultimately didn’t go anywhere at the trade deadline, but the constant trade speculation was a distraction for the Bucks, prompting Antetokounmpo to express regret that he didn’t try more forcefully to shut down those rumors.
“If I could turn time back, I would maybe come out a little bit earlier and say, ‘Hey, guys, this ends today,'” Giannis said (hat tip to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports). “‘Look at me in the eyes. I’m staying with Milwaukee until further notice. It ends today. Stop making stories, and after stories, and after stories.'”
The relationship between the Bucks and Antetokounmpo became tenser down the stretch when the two sides disagreed about how to handle a late-season injury. Given how the season ended, it seems safe to assume the Giannis rumor mill will roar back to life in the coming months.
We have more from around the Central:
- Sidelined until mid-March with a foot injury, Max Strus is playing a significant role for the Cavaliers off the bench in the postseason, scoring 24 points in Game 1 on Saturday and logging nearly 27 minutes of action in Game 2 on Monday. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com takes a closer look at Strus’ extended recovery period following surgery to repair a Jones fracture, noting that there was some doubt about the veteran wing’s ability to make it back and play meaningful minutes this spring.
- While the Cavaliers initially envisioned Strus as their starting small forward this season, it’s Dean Wade who has taken on that role in the playoffs. Wade, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, is considered more of a defensive specialist and his play on that end of the court has helped Cleveland stymie Raptors leading scorer Brandon Ingram through the first two games of the series, as Joe Vardon of The Athletic details. Ingram scored just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting on Monday, prompting Cavs star Donovan Mitchell to single out Wade as someone who “deserves a bunch of credit” for his performance. “I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring,” Mitchell said.
- Breaking down Jarace Walker‘s third NBA season, Tony East of Circle City Spin observes that the Pacers forward got off to a slow start before taking a step forward in the middle of the year and then finishing strong. While Walker will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, he’ll likely need to prove that he can maintain his second-half level in order to get the sort of second contract he’ll be seeking.
- A pair of assistant coaches from the Noblesville Boom – the Pacers‘ G League affiliate, are leaving the organization for WNBA jobs, according to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files, who tweets that Kelly Faris will be an assistant on the Chicago Sky’s staff, while Amiee Book will serve as the Phoenix Mercury’s head video coordinator.
Kerr’s Decision Could Lead To Major Changes For Warriors
The Warriors could be embarking on an “organizational reset” if head coach Steve Kerr decides not to return, several team sources tell Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater of ESPN. That could involve significant changes to the roster and coaching staff as the team tries to find a new direction following a 37-45 season and an exit in the play-in tournament.
After Friday’s loss at Phoenix, Kerr indicated that he’ll take a week or two before deciding whether to continue coaching. Team sources tell Shelburne that timeline is respectful to Kerr while giving the organization enough time to address its coaching situation before moving on to roster decisions. The sources also state that staff and philosophy questions will be discussed if Kerr returns, as management believes the team has become too reliant on three-point variance and wants to see more diversification in the offense and a greater emphasis on winning the possession battle.
There are lingering concerns about the 13-15 start when the roster was mostly healthy, Shelburne adds. Late-game performance, turnover problems and a sub-.500 record during a season when so many opponents were tanking were also worrisome.
“We didn’t find it earlier in the season,” Kerr said after the team was eliminated. “We were blowing some games we should’ve closed out. I could’ve done a better job. But when Jimmy (Butler) got hurt, it felt like we were finding it.”
Sources tell Shelburne that a wide search is expected for Kerr’s successor if he opts for retirement. College coaches could be in the mix, although Shelburne cites concerns about pairing someone who has no NBA experience with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Butler as they move into the final stages of their careers.
Changes to the coaching staff are expected even if Kerr stays, per Shelburne. Long-time assistant Chris DeMarco has already left to become head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty, and sources tell Shelburne that former Pelicans head coach Willie Green could return to the Warriors to work under Kerr again.
When Kerr discusses his future with management, owner Joe Lacob will want him to exhibit a strong desire to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the job rather than stay out of loyalty to Curry and Green, according to Shelburne’s sources. They add that Lacob will ask Kerr to sign a multiyear contract instead of returning for a brief farewell tour.
According to Shelburne, the Warriors remain committed to general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., despite some outside rumors that he may be a candidate to run Chicago’s front office. She reports that Dunleavy recently signed an extension without any fanfare and has multiple years remaining on the deal.
Shelburne also notes that if Golden State’s roster remains largely intact next season, there will still be the issue of having three players in their late 30s who take up nearly 80% of the payroll. Curry will be eligible for an extension of up to two years this summer and has already talked about wanting to keep playing for multiple seasons. Butler will become extension-eligible in February, which is about when he’s projected to return from an ACL tear. Shelburne hears that he’s expected to focus on getting healthy again and work out his future next summer.
Green has a $27.6MM player option for next season that he’s expected to either exercise or use as the basis to negotiate a longer deal. He was reportedly included in the Warriors’ offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline and while there’s a still a chance he could be moved for a star, sources tell Shelburne there is “no desire or mandate” to trade Green.
Shelburne suggests that Golden State could make another offer to the Bucks this summer or try again for Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, who became a target in February after the Antetokounmpo deal fell through. She adds that LeBron James could also be a possibility in free agency if he decides to leave the Lakers.
Fischer’s Latest: Horst, Bucks, Jenkins, Blazers, Bulls
The Bucks endured a disappointing and drama-filled season in 2025/26, going just 32-50 amid injuries to — and trade rumors involving — Giannis Antetokounmpo. Head coach Doc Rivers officially stepped down from his role on Monday and suggested in a subsequent podcast appearance that his NBA coaching days may be over.
Could general manager Jon Horst be the next key member of the organization on the move? According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), the early signs in Milwaukee indicate the answer to that question is no.
There had been speculation around the league about Horst’s job status, but his contract runs through 2027/28 and he has initiated contact with several agents as the Bucks commence their search for Rivers’ replacement, sources tell Fischer.
As Fischer writes, Horst hasn’t really spearheaded a coaching search since 2018, when the team hired Mike Budenholzer. Adrian Griffin, who went 30-13 in ’23/24 before being replaced by Rivers, was believed to be the favored choice of Antetokounmpo, while Rivers was hand-picked by ownership.
Fischer reiterates that ex-Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins and Bucks top assistant Darvin Ham are among the candidates for the position, but Horst appears to be casting a wide net in his search, with several other names in play as well.
On the other end of the search, candidates for the job likely won’t have a great feel for what Milwaukee’s roster will look like next season until at least this summer, Fischer notes, since Antetokounmpo’s situation remains unresolved.
Here’s more from Fischer’s latest rumor round-up:
- Jenkins, who was fired by Memphis near the end of the ’24/25 regular season, may be the “hottest name” on the coaching market, Fischer writes. There has been speculation the Wizards could be interested in Jenkins, but Washington’s front office recently said Brian Keefe is expected to remain in his role next season. Sources tell Fischer the Wizards want to give Keefe a chance to lead a team trying to win after Washington prioritized draft positioning in his first two-and-a-half years at the helm. The Magic are believed to be fans of Jenkins too, though the team still has Jamahl Mosley under contract.
- According to Fischer, part of the reason the Kings decided to retain Doug Christie is because Sacramento doesn’t project to be a playoff team next season and the former NBA guard has one year left on his contract. Given the current state of the team, paying two coaches doesn’t make much sense, Fischer writes.
- While Tiago Splitter has seemingly done as well as anyone could have hoped in Portland after Chauncey Billups was arrested and placed on leave as part of an illegal gambling probe, the Trail Blazers may be leaning in a different direction as they look to hire the first head coach under new majority owner Tom Dundon. According to Fischer, that’s not a reflection on Splitter’s performance as Portland’s interim replacement but rather Dundon’s reticence to pay the going rate for an NBA head coach. Fischer hears it has been “widely communicated” for weeks that Dundon is evidently looking to spend a maximum of $1.5MM per year on a new head coach, which is more in line with what top assistant coaches make. It’s also far less money than high-level college head coaches earn, Fischer continues, which is why some people believe an NBA assistant is more likely to accept the job unless a deal can be reached with Splitter. Fischer hears the Blazers have held exploratory talks with 20 college and international coaches about the position.
- The Bulls have hired the firm TurnkeyZRG to lead the search process for their new head of basketball operations, Fischer reports, but head coach Billy Donovan is also expected to have a “strong voice” in the search, assuming he stays in his current role. The Mavericks, meanwhile, decided not to use a search firm, with governor Patrick Dumont leading that process, Fischer adds.