Northwest Notes: McDaniels, Wolves, A. Mitchell, Lillard
In a first-round series featuring a perennial MVP candidate (Nikola Jokic) and several other stars, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels was the best all-around player on the court, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
McDaniels put an exclamation point on his dominant two-way performance in Game 6, limiting Jamal Murray to 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting while registering a game-high 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 45 minutes. The 25-year-old also sealed the series-clinching victory with key baskets down the stretch, as Krawczynski details.
Several other Timberwolves stepped up on Thursday with Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), Anthony Edwards (knee), Ayo Dosunmu (calf) and Kyle Anderson (illness) sidelined, including Terrence Shannon Jr. (24 points, six rebounds, two steals), Rudy Gobert (10 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks), and Naz Reid (17 points, seven rebounds, four assists).
But McDaniels was the driving force for Minnesota throughout the series, which saw the Wolves eliminate Denver from the playoffs for the second time in three years.
“He talked all series, and he backed it up all series,” head coach Chris Finch said. “And that’s called legitimate tough.”
Here’s more from the Northwest Division:
- The Timberwolves took the Nuggets’ late-season jockeying for position as a shot at them and used it as motivation throughout the hard-fought series, Troy Renck writes for the Denver Post. “Our guys took it personally. Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch and they chose us,” coach Chris Finch said. “We used that as motivation in our preparation and all the way through the series.” Denver, in truth, seemed to try to avoid the Wolves by sitting several starters and limiting Jokic (who needed one more appearance to qualify for award consideration) to 18 minutes in its regular season finale, but its bench rose to the occasion and won anyway, setting up the familiar intra-divisional matchup.
- Ajay Mitchell didn’t realize he’d taken 20 shots for the Thunder in his Game 3 start until after the win, when he looked at the stat sheet, Justin Martinez writes for The Oklahoman (subscriber link). However, he knew that it was his job to be extra aggressive with Jalen Williams out, and he embraced that responsibility. “Ajay is one of the toughest dudes in the league,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Mentally, he’s never shaken. He’s never afraid of the moment. Ajay could be having the worst day ever, and you would never know. He’s so solid. Having a teammate like that makes you more confident by just knowing that no matter what, you know what you’re gonna get from him. The ball might not always go in, but you know what you’re getting from Ajay every time he steps on the floor.”
- The Trail Blazers took a big step in their team development by making the playoffs. Damian Lillard says it also became clear what the team needs heading into next season, Sean Meagher writes for The Oregonian. “I think the obvious thing is, you know, we just need to be a better shooting team,” Lillard said. “I think when you got a guy like Deni [Avdija], who’s constantly getting downhill and in the paint and, you know, forcing teams to have to help is going to generate good shots, you know, is going to generate opportunities. And we got to be able to capitalize on that. And you know I’m going to be in the paint. I’m gonna get around my guy. And teams are going to help. You know I know that I’ll get attention. And it’s going to lead to open shots as well.”
Rory Maher contributed to this post.
Fischer’s Latest: Blazers’ Backcourt, Young, Hawks, Rockets
The Trail Blazers expect Damian Lillard to be back next season, but his return raises questions about the direction of Portland’s backcourt moving forward, Jake Fischer writes for the Stein Line (subscriber link).
The Blazers have Jrue Holiday under contract for at least one more season – he holds a $37.2MM player option for 2027/28 – as well as former No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, who had a torrid start to the first-round series against the Spurs before going cold in the final two games.
The team believes that Lillard and Holiday can function well together in the backcourt, according to Fischer, but with a long-term decision still to be made on Henderson, it’s possible the Blazers could look to open up minutes for the young guard, who averaged 15.0 points per game in his first career playoff series, by moving Holiday in a trade.
The veteran guard and two-time NBA champion said he’d prefer for that not to happen.
“I don’t like being traded and moved,” Holiday said. “I like being a part of something and building.”
We have more from Fischer’s latest newsletter:
- While rumors have circulated about Anthony Davis‘ future with the Wizards, including reports of potential interest from Portland, Fischer notes that the expectation remains that Washington will come to terms on a lucrative long-term extension for star point guard Trae Young. Young played just five games for the Wizards after being traded from the Hawks, averaging 15.2 points and 6.2 assists in 20.8 minutes per game.
- After a successful season followed by a devastating Game 6 blowout at the hands of the Knicks, the Hawks are not expected to go star-hunting this summer, despite having a handful of very good trade assets. Instead, the team is expected to focus on locking in deals for CJ McCollum, Jonathan Kuminga, and head coach Quin Snyder, who has one more year on his contract, Fischer reports. He adds that Bryson Graham, the vice president of basketball operations, remains in play for the Bulls’ head of basketball operations job.
- The Rockets came to terms with not being a true championship contender when they lost Fred VanVleet to an ACL tear before the season, but a first-round loss to the Lakers and chemistry questions surrounding Kevin Durant could lead to an “all options on the table” summer outlook, Fischer writes, especially given the possibility that players like Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Donovan Mitchell hit the trade block. Houston’s front office will now take stock of the team’s current ceiling and decide from there whether the roster needs margin tweaks or more substantial changes. Fischer adds that Amen Thompson is expected to be in the mix for a max contract extension after averaging 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in his first playoff run, a year after being voted onto the All-Defensive first team.
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.
Blazers Notes: Camara, Splitter, Offseason, Dundon
After being eliminated from the playoffs in a Game 5 loss in San Antonio on Tuesday, young players like Toumani Camara, Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija came away encouraged by the Trail Blazers‘ first postseason appearance in five years, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
“My first two years, I was trying to figure out what the main goal was for this team, where we’re trying to go, what we have, what was our mission,” Camara said. “Well, now we have more of a clear view of what we can do and what we can accomplish. So I think it’s very promising. We have a lot of talent. We have a group of great-character guys. I’m just very excited for what we’ve got coming.”
As Freeman notes, Portland overcame a significant amount of adversity to make the playoffs. Head coach Chauncey Billups was placed on indefinite leave following the first game of the season after being arrested on federal charges related to illegal gambling, and the team endured several injuries throughout 2025/26.
“We had a crazy year, man,” Camara said. “We’ve battled all year. It’s a tough league. It’s a tough league to win. But we stuck together, believed in one another throughout all the ups and downs, and I think it was a positive season for us, especially the way we were able to end things. We didn’t get the results or play the way we wanted during the playoffs. But it was our first time for a lot of us and we’re learning, still trying to build connection. I think it’s only positive things and nowhere to go but up from here.”
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- A year ago, Bill Oram of The Oregonian was skeptical of the team’s direction, but he viewed this season as a major success and now believes the Blazers are trending in a positive direction. Oram argues fans shouldn’t lose perspective on all the promising developments of ’25/26, despite the team being overmatched against the Spurs.
- Veteran wing Matisse Thybulle lauded Tiago Splitter‘s performance as interim head coach, according to Brenna Greene of KOIN News (Twitter video link). “There’s a term where, if its late in the shot clock and someone throws you the ball because they don’t have a good look and you have to shoot it with no time left, they call it a grenade. In a sense that’s kind of what Tiago was thrown,” Thybulle said. “… It’s in some cases a bit of miracle, but in our world, even if you overachieve, it can still be disappointing to people. … As far as I’m concerned, Tiago did an amazing job.”
- Thybulle is one of many Blazers who’s supportive of Splitter, according to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (subscriber link), who thinks the former NBA big man has “more than earned” the full-time job. Finding a permanent head coach will be the first order of business in Portland, but there are several other big questions facing the team this summer, Highkin writes, mostly centered on new owner Tom Dundon and how his involvement will impact the organization going forward. Highkin views Camara, Avdija and Donovan Clingan as the team’s core, with shooting an obvious area of need going forward.
- Within his offseason preview, ESPN’s Bobby Marks also points to Dundon as a wild card this summer, since he may or may not push the team to be ultra-aggressive. Robert Williams and Thybulle are among Portland’s potential free agents, with Henderson eligible for a rookie scale extension.
- Dundon has been heavily criticized for a series of cost-cutting measures in his first month-plus as major owner. However, he recently opened his wallet to make another investment in pickleball, per Ben Axelrod of Front Office Sports.
Blazers GM Cronin On Coaching Search, Dundon, More
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin conducted an end-of-season press conference on Thursday, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Portland, which was making its first playoff appearance since 2021, was eliminated by San Antonio on Tuesday.
Cronin confirmed the Blazers are conducting a search for a new head coach, stating that interim coach Tiago Splitter is a candidate to be promoted to the position full time.
“But we’re also looking around at other candidates,” Cronin said. “We decided early on we were going to cast a wide net and get to know a lot of different coaches and analyze and evaluate them in relation to Tiago. And timeline-wise, we don’t have a timeline pinned down. We just want to keep meeting people, keep talking to people and having a really thorough process.”
As for the rumors of new owner Tom Dundon being unwilling to fork over top dollar for a head coach, Cronin said that wasn’t necessarily the case.
“A lot of the reports on budget out there were a little misleading,” Cronin said. “I have talked to Tom a lot about this. We’re going to pay the coach based on some sort of level of shared risk. If it’s a first-time coach who comes with a lot of risk and doesn’t have a market that we have to necessarily compete in, it’ll be one number. If the coach we’re talking to is a 15-year vet and a future Hall of Famer, it’s going to be a completely different number. And Tom isn’t going to flinch at either of those scenarios. We’re going to be very open-minded to what types of people we interview and would potentially bring in. And I’m not concerned about the number at all.”
Here are few more highlights from Cronin’s presser, largely courtesy of Freeman.
On Dundon’s offseason directive:
“Growth. He wants to see us continue to get better on and off the court. Tom and I spent a lot of time … he’s so competitive and so diligent and so engaged with this team already. He studied us deeply and intensely, watches every game. We talk pretty much after every game. So he got a really good feel for us. Even before he took over, he was watching all the time. And I think he was really encouraged with what he saw. He saw continued growth. He saw a talent base that is very promising, (he) understands the assets that we have moving forward with all these picks that we have.
“He challenges us every day to go gain an advantage, go find the right player at the right price point to keep improving our roster. But also, internally improving our processes and how we’re looking at things, whether it’s from a coaching standpoint, our style of play and our player development techniques, to health and performance or scouting. It’s just overall getting better and better and fine-tuning all these areas that are needed in order for a team like ours to thrive.”
On how the team can improve this offseason:
“From a skill set perspective, I think, the Spurs series showed us that — really, the whole season — we just don’t shoot the ball well enough. Shooting is something we knew we were somewhat deficient in and something that we tried to address a little bit at the trade deadline with (the) Vit Krejci (trade), something that (Damian Lillard) will definitely help with. But it’s still a need moving forward. We played a lot of possessions in the mud where it was a crowd of paint for our attackers, specifically Deni (Avdija), Jrue (Holiday), Scoot (Henderson). They just didn’t have a lot of room to operate. And teams guarded us a certain way, knowing that we were really good at the rim and not great on the perimeter. And I think offensively, that just created issues for us throughout the season, highlighted by high turnover rate and percentages. So that’s one thing.
“We also still need to keep improving our talent base. A lot of that will come internally. I mentioned Dame already. Of course, that’s a big talent boost. But, individually, our guys got to keep getting better. We have a lot of young guys who have a lot of growth in them still, so they’ve got to take another step. But, also, we need to look externally for additions that could continue to boost our talent. This league, this Western Conference, it’s tough. We’ve got to keep getting better and keep stacking these players to be able to compete with these guys.”
On whether the Trail Blazers will make a big splash on the trade market or make moves around the edges:
“We’re open-minded to both. Big splash is definitely something that’s intriguing to us, but only at the right price point. We’re not going to completely sacrifice our future for a short-term swing. But at the same time, we plan to be very active and aggressive and explore all opportunities out there. If none of those opportunities present themselves, we’ll be content doing some smaller things, confident that our talent base is strong and that the addition of Dame, the internal development, fine-tuning some of these skill set deficiencies we have, we can take a nice step whether we make a big splash or not.”
On the decision to keep the two-way players in Portland at the start of the series instead of traveling to San Antonio (Twitter link via Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report):
“That one’s on me. I heard we were going to have some traveling party reductions and I assumed it would include them and didn’t double-check. That’s on me for not communicating it.”
DeAndre Jordan Named 2025/26 Teammate Of The Year
Veteran center DeAndre Jordan appeared in just 12 games as a member of the Pelicans this season, but he has been named the 2025/26 Teammate of the Year, the NBA announced today (Twitter link).
The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award recognizes “the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to his team,” per the league.
Pelicans players and interim head coach James Borrego spoke repeatedly over the course of the year about the impact that Jordan had on a young roster despite his extremely limited role.
“To see the growth of our young team, DeAndre had a massive impact on that,” Borrego said near the end of the regular season. “He brought professionalism every day. A voice every day. A respect for every drill, every practice and every moment together.”
The Teammate of the Year award isn’t voted on by media members. A panel of league executives select the 12 finalists (six from each conference) for the award, while current players vote on the winner. Players receive 10 points for a first place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and one point for fifth place.
Jordan just narrowly won this season’s vote ahead of Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, who has won the award three times and was the last Pelicans player to claim it back in 2020. Jordan earned 66 first-place votes to Holiday’s 39, but the Blazers veteran nearly made up the difference by accumulating more second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-place votes than the big man.
Here are this season’s full voting results, according to the NBA, with the player’s point total noted in parentheses:
- DeAndre Jordan, Pelicans (1,445)
- Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers (1,437)
- Jeff Green, Rockets (1,420)
- Garrett Temple, Raptors (1,223)
- Pat Connaughton, Hornets (672)
- Jalen Brunson, Knicks (659)
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics (651)
- De’Aaron Fox, Spurs (640)
- Duncan Robinson, Pistons (523)
- Jaylin Williams, Thunder (471)
- Desmond Bane, Magic (445)
- Marcus Smart, Lakers (424)
Jordan’s win snaps a seven-year streak of a point guard being named Teammate of the Year. From 2018-25, Holiday won it three times, Mike Conley won twice, and Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry won once apiece.
Northwest Notes: Jones, McDaniels, Blazers, Jazz
After he made just 15-of-48 shots (31.3%) during the Nuggets‘ two losses in Minnesota, Nikola Jokic submitted a more characteristic performance in Game 5 on Monday, racking up a triple-double (27 points, 16 assists, 12 rebounds) while knocking down 9-of-15 field goal attempts.
Perhaps even more importantly, Denver’s supporting cast stepped up in a major way. Jamal Murray scored 24 points, Cameron Johnson had 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and – in his second career playoff start – Spencer Jones added 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with three blocks and three steals.
As Jason Quick of The Athletic and Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (subscription required) detail, Jones began the season on a two-way contract but showed as early as the preseason that he deserved a longer look after playing sparingly as a rookie in 2024/25. Jones ended up starting 37 games and averaging 22.1 minutes per night, and he has emerged as a crucial part of Denver’s lineup in these playoffs with Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson sidelined.
As good as Jones was offensively on Monday, head coach David Adelman wanted to talk after the game about the forward’s defense. Adelman first considered a rotation role for Jones last fall based on the way he guarded Brandon Ingram in a preseason game, and his defensive effort was on display again in Game 5 as he took on the Julius Randle assignment.
“He just competes, man,” Adelman said of Jones, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason. “Randle’s an All-Star. Randle’s a load. And nobody in this room would want to be near Randle in their lives. And (Jones) just stands there and takes the hits.
“I thought he was really good outside of one time (at) not fouling him, either, where he made him take tough contested shots. A couple times, (Randle) got to his right shoulder and he laid the ball in with his left hand. But that’s why he gets paid a ton of money, because he’s a really special player. But the stuff early, he pushed him out. That’s the thing with Randle. If you concede space, just go home. I think Spence did a good job of competing for the spot.”
Here are a few more items of interest from around the Northwest:
- Since calling out Denver’s defense after the Timberwolves‘ Game 2 win, Jaden McDaniels has embraced the villain role and was willing to add more fuel to the fire following Minnesota’s loss on Monday, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “I love this environment, everyone hating me, all the hate’s coming toward me,” McDaniels said of being booed by the Denver faithful. “I love it. I don’t care. I feed into it. It just brings the best out of me. We just ended up losing today, but we’re going to win the next one.”
- As Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report notes (via Twitter), the Trail Blazers‘ two-way players have made the trip to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday. Players on two-way contracts aren’t eligible to play in the postseason, but Portland was the only team not to bring its two-way players on the road during the first two games of a first-round series, with new owner Tom Dundon looking to reduce spending.
- After finishing either 29th or 30th in defensive rating in each of the past three seasons, the Jazz expect former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to help on that end of the court in 2025/26. Still, they know they’ll need to do more this offseason to fix one of the league’s worst defenses, according to Sarah Todd of The Deseret News. “Defense is going to be a team-wide goal for us this summer,” president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said. “Every guy’s been told that we’re making a big leap next year defensively. No discussion. It’s going to happen.” Head coach Will Hardy singled out Ace Bailey and Keyonte George as two players he wants to see more from on defense.
Blazers Notes: Avdija, Game 4, Williams, Moda Center
An altercation between Spurs guard Stephon Castle and Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija at the end of Game 4 captured fans’ attention, less for the shoving that occurred after Castle made an and-one layup and handed Avdija the ball, and more for their different reactions following the game, Tom Orbsorn of the San Antonio Express-News writes.
The Spurs guard dismissed the incident as little more than two competitors facing off. However, the Blazers’ star took things a bit more personally.
“You can be tough, you can be, you know, physical, but there’s a level of disrespect I’m not going to accept,” Avdija said. “… At one point, it was just disrespectful. I’m not playing that.”
Avdija had previously spoken on the roughness of the series, noting that the two teams seemed to be trading off who set the tone in terms of physicality, Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report notes (via Twitter). Such a trend might have contributed to the escalating tension between the two players, both of whom tend to embrace contact.
“Game 1, they were more physical. Game 2, we were more physical. Last night, they were more physical,” the Israeli-born forward said. “… Next game, I expect to wear two mouth guards.”
We have more Blazers notes:
- Portland suffered consecutive second-half collapses in Games 3 and 4 and now finds itself on the brink of elimination. But while the Blazers may have their backs against the wall, they’re determined not to go down easily, Joe Freeman writes for The Oregonian. “We’re still alive,” coach Tiago Splitter said. “And we’re going to fight. This group is a special group. They’re going to keep fighting.” With the strong performances the Spurs have gotten across the board so far, though, Freeman wonders if the fighting spirit is enough to get back into the series, especially now that Victor Wembanyama is back.
- Given the Blazers’ struggles to hold the leads they’ve been able to build, it may be time to consider a lineup change, and the most obvious choice is to promote backup center Robert Williams III, Sean Highkin writes for the Rose Garden Report (subscriber link). Second-year big man Donovan Clingan has struggled, both against Wembanyama and in the minutes the Spurs’ star sits, while Williams has arguably been Portland’s second-best player through four games. When asked about a potential change, Splitter didn’t rule it out, nor did he confirm it. “We’ve got to see all the options,” he said.
- The Blazers’ stadium, Moda Center, is likely to get the funding the team has been seeking, as Oregon governor Tina Kotek signed Senate Bill 1501, which allows the state to contribute $365MM to renovations, Bill Oram writes for The Oregonian. Now the decision will go to the Portland City Council. “The state has done its part and we’re not done,” Kotek said. “We are going to stay at the table, we are monitoring. We are going to watch this thing all the way to the end because this is a significant investment for the state.”
Amick’s Latest: Lottery Reform, Mosley, Lakers, Wolves, More
A “heavy frontrunner” has emerged as the NBA considers its options to reduce tanking, league and team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.
In March, the league presented three separate lottery reform concepts to its governors to address the problem. It appears option No. 1, which expands the draft lottery to 18 teams from the current 14, has received the best reception, according to Amick. The proposal would give each of the bottom 10 teams an 8% chance of landing the top overall pick, and the remaining 20% would be distributed among the other eight. It’s a significant change from the current system, which provides the three worst teams with a 14% chance at the No. 1 selection, with the odds steadily declining for the rest.
Several general managers that Amick contacted point out that option No. 1 could result in new problems that should be addressed before a vote is taken. There could be an outcry if one of the four lottery teams that reaches the playoffs winds up winning the top overall selection. Although the odds of that happening are slim, the huge jumps taken by Atlanta, Dallas and other teams in the last two lotteries show that it’s possible.
The next step in the process will take place on Tuesday with a league-wide meeting of GMs on Zoom. Draft reform won’t be the only topic of discussion, but it will be the main issue, Amick adds. He hears that commissioner Adam Silver is taking a “collaborative approach,” welcoming extensive feedback, with the league’s competition committee taking the lead and representatives from the players union also involved.
A vote on reform is expected at the next Board of Governors meeting in May, and at least 23 of the 30 teams must approve the proposal for it to be adopted. Silver stated in February that he hopes to have a new system in place by next season.
There’s more from Amick:
- Orlando’s playoff success may be complicating a few expected coaching moves. Amick notes that rumors about Jamahl Mosley being on the hot seat have been circulating since October, and they intensified when the Magic lost their final regular season game and their first play-in contest. Former Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and Bucks associate head coach Darvin Ham were seen as potential replacements, and Mosley was viewed as a possible candidate for the Pelicans. However, Orlando holds a 2-1 lead in its series with top-seeded Detroit, and Amick believes Mosley is worthy of a “second look” from Magic officials if he can get the team to at least the second round.
- Amick addresses a few other coaching situations, including Tiago Splitter‘s unique position with the Trail Blazers and Mike Brown‘s Finals-or-bust mandate with the Knicks. Amick also believes pressure has increased on the Sixers’ Nick Nurse and the Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson following Sunday’s playoff losses.
- The Lakers and Timberwolves have experienced terrible injury luck, with L.A. losing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves before its series started and Minnesota seeing Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards both suffer significant injuries in Saturday’s game. Amick praises the foresight of the Lakers’ Rob Pelinka and the Wolves’ Tim Connelly for adding depth that gives their teams a chance to survive those losses. Pelinka signed Marcus Smart last summer following a buyout with Washington, then acquired Luke Kennard from Atlanta in February. Connelly made possibly the best deal at this year’s deadline, getting Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago in exchange for two little-used players and a package of second-round picks.
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.