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They then cover some big decisions for teams in the Western Conference, including if the LA Clippers should part ways with Kawhi Leonard, potential salary concerns for Oklahoma City Thunder and if the Golden State Warriors should trade their pick for a key player. Brian is joined by lmct+ casino ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to welcome in ESPN broadcaster Mike Breen to recount the New York Knicks' magical win to the championship. Zach Kram is grading every free agency signing and the most impactful extensions this offseason, breaking down the ramifications for all teams and players involved. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on "Get Up" that the Boston Celtics are "all-in" on acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, including offering Jaylen Brown in a deal for the two-time MVP. Sources also told Charania that if he is traded to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown would remain with the Bucks. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be be traded before the NBA draft on Tuesday and that the two finalists for Antetokounmpo are the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.
"Financially it's going to be very difficult for them to keep him. They're going to have exceptions to use. They could participate in a sign-and-trade with Norman Powell this offseason, but the Heat are operating as if he's going to end up in a sign-and-trade or end up elsewhere." "This offseason, there's going to be interest in him, other suitors for him," Charania said. All three had in-person workouts for the Warriors last week, as did Washington big Hannes Steinbach and Alabama guard Labaron Philon, two other potential targets. The latest buzz has them more often tied to Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and Tennessee wing Nate Ament, but everything with Brooklyn (including the possibility of a trade) is unpredictable, and it's possible Acuff could be off the board in the sixth slot. "There are multiple teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard right now over the next few weeks," Charania said on the NBA Today Draft Special. ESPN's Shams Charania reports multiple teams have interest in the two-time Finals MVP, who has one season left on his contract. After trading LaMelo Ball, the Hornets prioritized signing White, who will now step into a starting role in the backcourt. James is one of several free agents for the Lakers to consider this offseason.
"When LeBron left, we just fell flat on our faces because we just weren't rooted in anything," a team source told ESPN. "Not because one guy wants his own team, not because one guy wants out of there, not because one guy wants extra accolades and extra shots. From a basketball team-building strategic standpoint in the 2026 NBA, does that make sense? This is what the Celtics have to analyze." ESPN's Brian Windhorst went on the NBA Weekend radio show to discuss Jaylen Brown's future with the Boston Celtics, including if he'd want to leave and what the Celtics need to do with their backcourt. "Miami would say 'we got Tyler Herro who is a young player and been an All-Star. We got draft picks including the 13th pick in this draft… And Giannis I think wants to be in Miami. There's more check marks on Miami. I'm not sure Boston is ready to trade Jaylen Brown." ESPN's Tim Bontemps went on the "Hoop Collective" podcast and forecast Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, including what teams have the best package for the two-time MVP.
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Minnesota built up a late 9-point lead, led by Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards, with the latter coming off the bench in his return from an injury in the previous round. Rui Hachimura scored 25 points, including a key four-point play in the closing minutes, and LeBron James had 24 points and 12 rebounds. However, the Thunder outscored the Lakers in the third quarter 33–20 and continued with a 41-point fourth quarter. Most notably, Austin Reaves was 3-of-16 and scored just 8 points, which was the fewest makes ever by a Lakers' player in the playoffs with 15 or more shot attempts. Playing the #1 defense in the league, Los Angeles struggled without Luka Dončić, shooting 41% from the field and 33% from three. Anunoby left the game late, seemingly with a hamstring injury, and did not return. In their 6 previous appearances, they were 5–1, including four consecutive finals wins from 2015–2018, with their only loss in 2009 to the Orlando Magic.
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As LeBron James' free agency pursuit extends into its second week, the Philadelphia 76ers have maintained their pitch to the four-time champion through three of their players, league sources told ESPN. The increase in national viewership was attributed to the elimination of first-round regional broadcasts, as well as over-the-air broadcaster NBC taking over a portion of the coverage that was previously held by cable channel TNT. Under those rights, the two broadcasters were allowed to produce separate Canadian feeds for all games involving the Raptors regardless of round or U.S. broadcaster. In Canada, the home market of the Toronto Raptors, English national broadcast rights were split approximately equally between the Sportsnet and TSN groups of channels. These deals marked the first time that all first-round playoff games in the U.S. were exclusive national games, and regional broadcasters could no longer produce their own local feeds. All-NBA Third Team forward/center Chet Holmgren had just 4 points and only took two shots, making his 4 points the second-lowest scoring output by an All-NBA player in a Game 7 in NBA history. Julian Champagnie got 18 of his 20 off of 3-pointers and Stephon Castle had a 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists (against 6 turnovers).
( San Antonio Spurs Eliminate ( Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-3
They then move on to the Portland Trail Blazers' late win over the Phoenix Suns in the West before closing on previews of this week's other play-in games. Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to cover the two exciting play-in games from Tuesday night, including the wild ending between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat and whether LaMelo Ball's controversial trip of Bam Adebayo will have ramifications moving forward. Inside the organization, they've long known that, despite stretches of play that remind everyone of their game-changing past, like that fourth quarter against the Clippers, this team, with two aging icons on the wrong side of the actuarial table, is nowhere near good enough to win a title. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater detailed the upcoming summer for the Golden State Warriors, an offseason that could lead to immense change for a franchise that has won four NBA titles in the past 11 seasons. Donovan, who had led the Bulls' bench for six seasons, elected to leave the franchise after extensive meetings with ownership. Bucks management met with Jenkins last week in Memphis and this week in Milwaukee, sources said, to secure his commitment. Kerr's future is the first domino, but management doesn't plan to rush Kerr, who just finished his 12th season as head coach.
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And on Sunday morning, he reported that four-time All-Star Anthony Edwards would miss multiple weeks after hyperextending his left knee. Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to break down the weekend's Game 7's, including the Philadelphia 76ers completing the comeback against the Boston Celtics and their chances against the New York Knicks in the semifinals. ESPN's Dave McMenamin spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers during their opening week in the Eastern Conference finals to report on where the franchise stands eight years after LeBron James left for the second time. ESPN's Brian Windhorst stated on NBA Today he expects the Cleveland Cavaliers to make "significant changes" to the roster during the offseason, including a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Appearing on "Get Up" on Monday morning, ESPN's Brian Windhorst said he thinks Milwaukee Bucks MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo would prefer to be traded to the Miami Heat this offseason. There are plenty of intriguing players who could surprisingly fall out of the top 10, including Arizona guard Brayden Burries, who league sources said is expected to be among the lottery prospects working out for the Warriors next week. He will turn 24 in September and is only three months younger than current Warriors wing Gui Santos and is a week older than former Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga, who just finished his fifth NBA season.
They then jump into the biggest storylines over the final week of the regular season, including the drama between the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the playoff races to watch and the mounting injuries hampering the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff hopes. The Miami Heat and team president Pat Riley will be in the market for a superstar this offseason, including the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Thunder guard Jalen Williams has suffered a Grade 1 sprain to his left hamstring and will be reevaluated on a weekly basis. They've spent this past week conducting exit interviews with players and staffers, and are gearing up for the offseason. Embiid had an emergency appendectomy two weeks ago in Houston, and has been out since, although he appeared on the bench for last week's play-in victory at home against the Orlando Magic. DiVincenzo shot 38% on 3-pointers this season and made 3.0 per game, which is more than Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert combined.
( Oklahoma City Vs ( Los Angeles Lakers
Kerr said he needed a week or two for the necessary space, contemplation and bigger picture conversations before deciding whether to seek another contract with the Warriors or walk away from coaching entirely, perhaps into the media space. Steve Kerr has made no decision yet in regard to his future coaching the Golden State Warriors, and the two sides don't expect to come to any firm determination until next week at the earliest, team sources told ESPN. Kevin Durant, who made his Houston Rockets playoff debut in Game 2 after missing Game 1 with a right knee contusion, is now listed as questionable heading into Friday's Game 3 with a left ankle sprain. Lakers guard Austin Reaves has not played since he suffered Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury on April 2. But this week, when Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter was asked if there's a possibility for Lillard to return during these playoffs, he didn't completely rule it out.