NBA 101

NBA Executives Increasingly Expect Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade As Bucks Signal Desire To Move On

After years of speculation, the belief around the NBA has shifted with the expectation that the Milwaukee Bucks will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. League insiders at the draft combine in Chicago described the Bucks as a franchise ready to move on after several disappointing playoff runs and the limbo of Antetokounmpo’s status throughout the 2025-26 season.

“It just feels like they’re done with the circus, more than anything,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “They seem to want a clean break and to move on.”

Co-owner Jimmy Haslam set the June 23-24 NBA draft as a target deadline for resolution. Milwaukee’s front office must choose between rebuilding through a trade or retaining Antetokounmpo and improving around him. The belief around the league is that if Antetokounmpo remains on the roster when he becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension on October 1, he will sign it.

Antetokounmpo has one season remaining on his contract plus a player option. Recent history shows that star players in similar situations typically influence their own trade destination, affecting their overall value to acquiring teams.

The deals sending Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors in 2018 and Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 serve as the modern blueprint. Both reshuffled the league’s balance of power and produced championships for the acquiring franchises.

The NBA’s proposed lottery reform adds another variable. Teams in Chicago expect the league to approve a new “3-2-1” system this month, giving up to 18 franchises a realistic shot at the top pick. How that affects Antetokounmpo’s trade market remains unclear as some executives predict teams will be less likely to trade future picks due to the more even odds.

“If someone can get Giannis, they might win the offseason,” an East executive said. “For all the distractions and injuries over the last few years, he remains a top-five player in his prime, and those guys aren’t available often. That’s why this matters so much.”

Steve Kerr Decided To Retire As Warriors Coach Before Changing His Mind After Play-In Win

Steve Kerr had made up his mind he was going to retire as Golden State’s head coach after 12 seasons regardless of the outcome of their play-in game against the Los Angeles Clippers in April. Kerr put the odds at 95%, but then the Warriors won, and everything changed.

“I’m not leaving,” Kerr told his staff in the locker room after the Clippers victory. Kerr’s wife, Margot Kerr, sent him a text that said the same thing.

The reversal came after months of genuine internal conflict. As far back as June 2025, Kerr had begun discussing retirement with his wife. He sensed the dynasty had run its course and worried about overstaying his welcome, having watched mentor Gregg Popovich struggle to walk away from the San Antonio Spurs before a stroke ultimately made the decision for him.

“I realized he couldn’t do it,” Kerr said of Popovich. “He couldn’t walk away.”

By the time the Warriors reached the play-in round, Kerr had grown increasingly certain his time was done. He told staff privately his decision was nearly final. But the victory over the Clippers, a furious comeback fueled by Al Horford hitting four straight three-pointers and Stephen Curry making the decisive play, reminded him of everything he stood to leave behind.

The following week he drove to Curry’s home in Atherton to get his star player’s read on the situation. He met with owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy. His daughter Maddy scolded him for dwelling on what he didn’t like about the job rather than the hundred things he did. Margot wanted him to stay, partly because it kept their son Nick and his family close by.

The competing emotional pulls were real and he acknowledged them directly.

“Coaching has unlocked the best version of myself,” Kerr said. “I think I’m scared that I will lose that daily engagement and purpose that not only feeds my soul, but helps me deal with my literal chronic daily pain.”

Lacob told Kerr he wanted him back. The two men, who had disagreed on some things during the season, shared a conviction that what the Warriors had built was worth protecting and fighting for. Kerr told Dunleavy he was in.

Kerr called Curry with the news and the two spoke about the road ahead. Draymond Green went on the “Inside the NBA” set and echoed the themes Kerr had outlined in a personal letter he had written to Green during a difficult stretch mid-season, a letter centered on loyalty, fighting spirit and the obligation to set the franchise up for success when the current core was gone.

Kerr laughed when he reflected on the full arc of his deliberations.

“I’m just like Riley,” he said, referencing Pat Riley’s famous inability to step away from the game.

Kerr had fielded numerous offers through his agent, including opportunities to become a team president or a return to broadcasting.

“I’m not a suit,” Kerr said of running a team’s front office as he did previously with the Phoenix Suns. “I want the whistle.”

Jalen Brunson Deflects ‘Star’ Question When Discussing Acceptance Of Off-Ball Role

Jalen Brunson immediately accepted a reduced ball-handling role when coach Mike Brown proposed running more offense through Karl-Anthony Towns during the playoffs, a shift that has since produced seven consecutive New York Knicks victories.

The adjustment came after New York dropped two straight games to the Atlanta Hawks in their first round series, putting the team in danger of an early postseason exit. Brown approached players about redistributing offensive responsibilities, with Brunson moving off the ball more frequently.

“Was there any concern? No. What was the dialogue? The dialogue was, ‘OK, let’s do it,'” Brunson said Wednesday. “It was that simple. There’s not really much you can talk about at that point when you’re down 2-1.”

When a reporter suggested other star players might have resisted, Brunson replied: “1) I’m not a star. 2) I want to win.” He added while leaving: “I’m not self-centered, that’s why.”

New York has outscored opponents by an average of 26.4 points during the streak, posting a 130.5 offensive rating per 100 possessions. Towns has recorded 66 postseason assists, 44 more than his total from a year ago.

Brunson’s own production has climbed as well. He is averaging 27.3 points on 51.9 percent shooting and 42.6 percent from three during the streak. His scoring efficiency per touch rose from .285 during the regular season to .324.

“Putting KAT in that position knowing we have great screeners and great cutters, and like I said a great facilitator, it was easier to say, ‘Let’s try it and do it more,'” Brown said.

Brunson’s buy-in mirrors his 2024 contract extension, a four-year, $156.5 million deal in which he accepted less than market value, helping New York avoid the second apron and strengthen its roster depth.

Rob Pelinka: Lakers Would Love To Have LeBron James Back Next Season

Rob Pelinka went on the record on Tuesday indicating that the Los Angeles Lakers would love to have LeBron James remain with the team next season. James signed with the Lakers in 2018 and completes his eighth season with the team.

“We probably haven’t seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he’s honored the game,” Pelinka said as part of the team’s annual exit interviews with reporters. “He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization. And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back.”

Pelinka said the Lakers will be patient with James’ process as he enters into unrestricted free agency.

“The first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are,” Pelinka said. “Does he want to play another year in the NBA? And that’ll be [decided through] family time, I think time with his inner circle. And we just want to honor that for him.”

James was an All-Star this season at the age of 41.

“Of course, any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster,” Pelinka said. “That’s a blessing in itself just with what he does.”

Austin Reaves is also an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Pelinka expressed interest in retaining him.

“He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker,” Pelinka said. “And we feel the same way. We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the purple and gold. … Both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out where he continues his prolific career here.”

WNBA Media Rights Average Annual Value Jumps 6.5 Times To $281M

The WNBA has grown its media rights package to $3.1 billion over 11 years across seven broadcast and streaming partners, a source familiar with the deals confirmed to Front Office Sports. The average annual value of $281 million represents a 6.5 times increase over the prior deal’s $43 million annual figure.

The expanded partnership includes Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock), Amazon (Prime Video), Paramount (CBS), Scripps (ION), USA Sports (USA Network), and NBA TV. The WNBA generated roughly $60 million in total media revenue last year before the expanded agreements took effect.

The league’s original 11-year, $2.2 billion deal was secured in July 2024 with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon as part of the NBA’s broader $77 billion rights package. CBS, Scripps, and USA Sports were added subsequently to reach the current $3.1 billion figure.

The agreements include revenue-sharing provisions that could push annual payments above $281 million if any partner recoups its financial investment through advertising and sponsorship returns. All deals also contain reset provisions after the 2028 season allowing renegotiation of terms, though it remains unclear which parties can trigger that clause.

For the 2026 season, which began Friday, the WNBA secured a record 216 national broadcasts. ION leads all partners with 50 games, followed by USA Network with 48.

The WNBA Finals will air across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock this year, marking the first time since 2000 that a Disney network will not carry the championship series.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged concerns about audience fragmentation across so many platforms.

“The WNBA is not unique in this battle, right? It’s the free market that the U.S. has in the media market because there’s a lot of participants,” Engelbert told Sports Business Journal. She added that she expects “consolidation over time” among media companies.

2026 NBA Draft Lottery: Wizards At No. 1, Ahead Of Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls

The Washington Wizards, who had the best odds at 14 percent, have won the lottery and the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz will hold the No. 2 pick ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3 and the Chicago Bulls at No. 4.

The Indiana Pacers were fifth and must convey their selection to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade at the deadline.

The top four picks are expected to be some combination of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. The 2026 draft has also became touted for its depth, especially at guard with the likes of Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr. and Brayden Burries.

Out of all the teams in the lottery, the Jazz were most tightly connected to Dybantsa who has surpassed Peterson on many teams draft boards. But the Wizards will dictate how the draft plays out as they have a challenging decision to make at No. 1. The Wizards made a pair of trades for veteran All-Stars this season in Trae Young and then Anthony Davis.

2026 NBA Draft Lottery Results

1. Washington Wizards
2. Utah Jazz
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers)
13. Miami Heat
14. Charlotte Hornets

2 winners, 2 losers from WNBA opening weekend (so far)

We’re less than 24 hours into the WNBA season, and only 6 of the league’s 15 teams have made their season debuts. Still, let’s take a look at some way-too-early winners and losers from the first couple of games of the 2025-2026 WNBA season.

Winner: Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics

Sonia Citron had a spectacular rookie season, and she started her sophomore year right where she left off. Citron was dominant in the Mystics’ 68-65 win over the Toronto Tempo on Friday night, posting a game-high 26 points on 9-12 FG and 3-6 from three. She also racked up 2 steals and 2 blocks, continuing to show signs of being one of the WNBA’s elite two-way guards.

Sonia Citron tonight 🔥

• 26 points
• 2 blocks
• 3/6 3PM
• 9/12 FG pic.twitter.com/Arj9WpBhas

— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 9, 2026

Washington Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson praised Citron’s performance.

“Her normal is a lot of other people’s great,” he said.

Winner: Kaitlyn Chen, Golden State Valkyries

Kaitlyn Chen was a third-round draft pick in 2025 and was cut by the Valkyries in the middle of her rookie season. But she had a tremendous offseason, made Golden State’s opening night roster, and looked tremendous in the season debut, tallying 14 points on 5-10 shooting, 2 assists, and 0 turnovers off the bench in a 91-80 win over the Seattle Storm.

After the game, Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase credited Chen for her offseason work.

“She’s been working,” Nakase said. “That’s credit to her in the offseason, right? Just putting in extra time. She came, you know, to the bay for a couple of weeks too, to work on her game after she went overseas.”

“Just her ability to score on all three levels, that’s basically what she did. And I mean, you saw her playing AU. She just took over the games. It was really nice to kind of see that carry over.”

Loser: The 2026 rookie class

It’s extremely early, but the 2026 WNBA draftees look like they’re going to need a little bit more time. So far, only one rookie has scored double-digit points: Seattle Storm guard Flau’jae Johnson, who tallied 12 points on 25% shooting in Friday night’s loss to the Golden State Valkyries.

No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd came off the bench for the Dallas Wings and scored 3 points on 1-2 shooting in 18 minutes. No. 2 pick Awa Fam is still overseas, and No. 4 pick Lauren Betts went scoreless in her Mystics debut.

It’s early, and the rookies made their impact in other ways, but the first 24 hours of the WNBA season did not do anything to dispel the notion that the 2026 draft class is mostly filled with future role players.

Loser: The Connecticut Sun

The Sun were absolutely crushed by the New York Liberty on opening night. They led 36-13 after the first quarter, and never let go of the rope, ultimately winning 106-75. The Liberty are one of the WNBA’s most loaded teams, and the Sun are in the midst of a rebuild, but it was not the start to the season that Connecticut was hoping for.

Only three players scored in double-figures: Diamond Miller (16 points), Aneesah Morrow (15 points), and Brittney Griner (13 points). As a collective, Connecticut shot 39% from the field, 18% from three, and 47% from the three-point line.

Facing the Liberty on opening night is a tough way to start, and the Sun were without Leila Lacan, who was one of their best players last season. Still, it was not an optimal start to their last-ever season in Connecticut.

Mike Schmitz Hired As General Manager Of Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have named Mike Schmitz as General Manager, the team announced Friday. Schmitz will report to President Masai Ujiri and oversee day-to-day basketball operations and strategic planning.

Schmitz joins Dallas after serving as Assistant General Manager with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he contributed to player evaluation, scouting, roster strategy and organizational planning. He is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s top talent evaluators.

“Mike is one of the most respected evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA,” Ujiri said. “He brings intelligence, discipline, humility and a relentless work ethic to everything he does. Just as importantly, he understands how to build an aligned, collaborative culture across every part of a basketball organization. We are building something special in Dallas, and Mike will be a major part of that vision.”

“Joining the Dallas Mavericks is an incredible opportunity,” Schmitz said. “I have tremendous respect for Masai, this ownership group and the vision they have for the future of this franchise. I’m excited to get to work alongside the talented people already in place and help build a championship-caliber organization.”

Before joining Portland in May 2022, Schmitz spent five years as a draft analyst for ESPN. He has served as an assistant coach for the Ugandan national team since 2018 and worked as a global scout for DraftExpress since 2012. He is a 2012 graduate of the University of Arizona.

Taylor Twellman credits golf for saving his life

The sport of golf means different things to different people.

Some love the game because of connections that they established with it. Someone they love or hold dearly introduced them to the world and they never want to leave. For others golf is a networking mechanism. You get out on the course, you have time with someone, you broker a deal. Tale as old as time.

I’ve heard Taylor Twellman say throughout his coverage of professional soccer that golf saved his life. This is a big statement and I was curious what he mant by that. In discussing his preparation for the American Century Championship with him I finally had the opportunity to ask.

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For Twellman it is obvious that golf checks all of those boxes. He has sentimental connections to it and experiences through family, but golf is his outlet. Golf is his space. Simply put, golf is his. He can be whoever he needs to be when he is out getting a round in.

Taylor will be among those getting in a round at Edgewood Tahoe from July 8th through 12 later this summer at the American Century Championship. This is one of the best events in golf at large and really personifies the spirit that golf has provided Taylor on a number of levels: competitiveness, fun, friendship, and more.

Competitiveness certainly rings true and to that point I had to ask Taylor who he thinks will win the ACC this year. He noted that Mardy Fish and Joe Pavelski are players to watch out for, but that John Smoltz and Steph Curry are all players who he is chasing.

Whoever winds up winning the event is certainly going to be a good time and be filled with people who are approaching it the right way like Taylor. That’s what matters most.