Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss Cooper Flagg's big weekend and where the Rookie of the Year award race currently stands. They then move on to the potential playoff matchups, including the possibility of an intriguing series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks and why the Denver Nuggets' wins of late have them set up for a deep playoff run. After failing to reach an extension last offseason, the Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren is set to cash in. Wembanyama is eligible to sign a five-year, $251 million extension this offseason. Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the final day of the NBA regular season, including how upsets influenced the playoff seeding.

(After negotiations stalled last offseason, Quentin Grimes and Cam Thomas signed one-year qualifying offers.) Here's a snippet of his notes ahead of free agency officially starting on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Bobby Marks examines all 30 franchises' plans for free agency, including priority signings, top trade targets and the draft assets that could be used in the next superstar deal. Green played all 82 games for the Pistons last season and averaged 6.9 points, 17.6 minutes and shot 38.1% from 3. Charlotte acquires draft capital, and the deal allows the Rockets more roster flexibility after the acquisitions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic this offseason. LeBron James' agent Rich Paul spoke with ESPN on Friday to discuss a potential landing spot for James this offseason.

Lendeborg's individual workout and in-person meeting with the front office Thursday will assuredly play a role in whether the Warriors decide to draft him in two weeks. Lendeborg is among a group of prospects expected in the team's practice facility this week, with the NBA draft less than two weeks away (Round 1 is June 23 on ESPN/ABC). This isn't the league's first time down this road in recent years, as the Bucks have ultimately decided to keep their superstar forward each time any trade negotiations materialized. With less than two weeks until the NBA draft, the biggest non-Finals story in the league is the ongoing suspense of the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga. In Los Angeles, the future of LeBron James is the headliner over the next few weeks.

"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.

( Oklahoma City Vs ( Los Angeles Lakers

Next offseason, New York is projected to be $31 million below the second apron with seven players under contract. The Knicks finished the past two seasons $53,000 and $370,000 below. In the case of the Knicks, the team would not be allowed to send cash in a trade, use the $6.1 million tax midlevel exception, aggregate salaries in a trade or use more than 100% of the traded player exception. Karl-Anthony Towns is extension-eligible this summer and can become a free agent in the 2027 offseason if an agreement is not reached. Including the 24th pick in next week's draft (June 23 and 24, 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN), New York is $13 million below the second apron and has decisions with free agents Landry Shamet, Mitchell Robinson and possibly Jose Alvarado. ESPN's Dave McMenamin wrote a big offseason primer about the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, detailing what he's hearing about whether LeBron James and Austin Reaves will be back and whether Luka Doncic will have influence on the team's moves. "When Trae Young was traded in January, it came with the understanding that he would opt out of his contract," Windhorst said. Sweeney will be tasked with raising an already stellar defense to an elite lmct casino level while improving a Magic offense that struggled in a seven-game first-round loss to the Detroit Pistons.

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.

Nba Finals

In their weekly intel file, ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst talked to coaches, front offices and scouts to gauge the growing hype around the San Antonio Spurs' playoff run. ESPN's Jeremy Woo and Tim Bontemps talked to executives across the league about the upcoming 2026 NBA draft, including whom they believe will be taken with the first overall selection, what concerns front offices have with prospects and best fits. Brian is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to go over this season's final edition of the MVP straw poll, including whether Victor Wembanyama still has a chance to catch reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for the award. In the scenario Maxey is named All-NBA this season, he would become eligible to sign a four-year, $300 million supermax extension in the 2027 offseason if he is also named All-NBA next season. The Pelicans, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, have four games left on their schedule. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has reached another financial benchmark for games played. "I don't know who's going to still have their jobs in Chicago by the end of next week," Brian Windhorst said on the podcast.

Barrett's three, which was similar to Kawhi Leonard's game and series winning shot against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals, hit the rim, bounced high in the air, and fell in with 1.2 seconds left. Journeyman backup point guard Dennis Schröder scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and Evan Mobley hit a pair of big 3-pointers to give the Cavaliers a narrow 125–120 win back at home. In addition, they shot 14 of 45 from 3-point range, compared to 14 of 23 by the Raptors. Toronto's other starting forward, Brandon Ingram, struggled mightily, scoring just 7 points on 3-for-15 shooting. The Hawks' offense struggled greatly throughout the night, committing 18 turnovers and shooting just 10 of 41 (24%) from 3-point range.

Regular Season

Each trade has a designated time slot for its call, starting early in the afternoon and lasting into the evening. George joins a list of players — including James Harden, Jalen Green, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma and Harrison Barnes — who have eliminated or reduced the trade bonus in their contracts. The Golden State Warriors enter the second week of July yet to sign an outside free agent. However, waiting until the 2027 offseason would make Jokic eligible to sign a five-year, $359.5 million deal as a free agent. New York Knicks guard and Finals MVP Jalen Brunson had surgery on his left wrist but is expected to return to basketball activities later this summer, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. The Lakers, however, then went out and used up the majority of their financial wiggle room to secure commitments from Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, leaving little leftover space for an offer to Kuminga.