RADIO
Trail Blazers Eye Julius Thomas for Coaching Staff
According to Gazzetta's Giannis Pallas, Paris Basketball head coach Julius Thomas is considering NBA opportunities, with an offer from the Portland Trail Blazers to join Tiago Splitter's staff standing out. The 28-year-old replaced Francesco Tabellini in March and has helped guide Paris to the French league finals against Monaco. Thomas also worked under Tuomas Iisalo and Splitter, keeping him tied to the same aggressive, high-tempo coaching tree Portland has already leaned into. Paris ranked first in EuroLeague in three-point attempts and second in threes made, while the Blazers finished 10th in pace under Splitter. For fantasy managers, this would be more of a system signal than a direct rankings mover, but added pace and spacing emphasis would be encouraging for Portland's young playmakers, wings, and rim-running bigs.
Source: Giannis Pallas
Source: Giannis Pallas
Jalen Duren Expected to Clear $30 Million Per Year
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is expected to land a restricted free-agent deal worth more than $30 million annually, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. The 22-year-old bet on himself by not signing an extension last offseason, and his regular-season leap made that decision look sharp. Duren averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 28.2 minutes while shooting 65.0% from the field. His playoff dip adds some risk, but a long-term deal would confirm Detroit still views him as a core interior piece next to Cade Cunningham. For fantasy managers, Duren's rebounding, efficiency, and secure role keep him firmly on the early-round radar.
Source: Tim Bontemps
Source: Tim Bontemps
Devin Vassell Bounces Back Wednesday With 18 Points
San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Devin Vassell scored 18 points in Wednesday's 107-106 loss in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. After being limited to 11 points in Game 3, Vassell quickly found his offensive stride again, making three three-pointers in the first quarter. He finished 5-for-8 from outside, going 6-for-9 overall from the field. In 40 minutes of action, Vassell also recorded five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. This was Vassell's highest-scoring outing since Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City. He's made 48% of his triples in the Finals, and getting Vassell good looks from deep could be a key factor in surviving Saturday's elimination game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dylan Harper Continues to Shine for Spurs in Finals
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper had another fantastic performance off the bench in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, finishing a 107-106 loss with 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists. He missed only four of 12 field-goal attempts and went 3-for-6 from deep. Harper turned only 20 in March, but he's playing like an experienced veteran in his first Finals appearance. Through four games, the second-generation NBA player has averaged 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes per game. It will be interesting to see how Harper copes with the pressure of an elimination game on Saturday night, with San Antonio down 3-1 in the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Wembanyama Records Second Finals Double-Double
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama recorded his second double-double in the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday, finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a heartbreaking 107-106 loss to the New York Knicks. The Spurs, including Wembanyama, were on fire early and built a 29-point lead. However, their offense collapsed in the second half, allowing the Knicks to mount the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Wembanyama tallied three blocks but was limited to one assist. He finished 9-for-25 from the field, including 2-for-8 from beyond the arc, and was 4-for-7 at the free-throw line. San Antonio's leader missed a pair of free throws late in the game. To cap off a disappointing night, Wembanyama was assessed a flagrant foul 1, bringing his playoff total to three flagrant points and putting him one away from an automatic suspension.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Karl-Anthony Towns Limited by Foul Trouble in Game 4 Against Spurs
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns was limited to 13 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in a dramatic 107-106 win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The veteran star picked up two fouls in the opening 1:02 and ended up logging just 26 minutes due to foul trouble. When he was on the floor, Towns was effective. Posting a double-double in 26 minutes is no mean feat, and he missed only one of his five field-goal attempts, going 4-for-4 at the line. Towns has now managed just 24 points over the last two games, but the Knicks are still on the cusp of winning the championship. O.G. Anunoby, who tallied a playoff career-high 33 points on Wednesday, has taken over the offensive duties from Towns.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Brunson Posts Second Consecutive 30-Point Game in Finals
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 36 points in Wednesday's 107-106 Game 4 win over the San Antonio Spurs. He tallied nine points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks capped a 29-point comeback. Brunson finished 12-for-25 from the field, 3-for-7 from three, and 9-for-11 at the line. He grabbed five rebounds, dished out seven assists, and made an impact defensively with three steals. While Brunson struggled with efficiency early in the series, he has scored 30-plus points in three of the four Finals games. He'll undoubtedly spearhead the Knicks' efforts again on Saturday night, with a chance to clinch the championship.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
OG Anunoby Completes Historic Knicks Comeback
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby scored a playoff career-high 33 points in a huge 107-106 comeback win in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The Knicks erased a 29-point deficit, marking the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Anunoby's final bucket came 2.1 seconds from the end of the fourth quarter, when he tipped in the game-winner after Jalen Brunson's missed three-pointer. Across 41 minutes, Anunoby was incredible from downtown, going 7-for-9, and finished 10-for-15 overall from the field. He had four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Anunoby has come alive offensively recently and will look to keep it up in Game 5 on Saturday night, when the Knicks have a chance to win their first championship since 1973.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Pelicans Attempting to Trade Up in Draft
The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly attempting to trade up into the draft lottery ahead of this year's draft, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Pelicans traded up into the lottery last season and selected center Derik Queen. It's unclear who the Pelicans are targeting, but they should have the assets to get a deal done if they want to. That means, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, and Yves Missi could all be available in a potential deal. Jones is one of the league's most coveted two-way players, so he'd likely be the centerpiece of any trade-up deals. The Pelicans are likely just feeling out the waters, but maybe they'll make a big move to jump up ahead of draft day.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Wizards to Host AJ Dybantsa for a Visit
The Washington Wizards will host potential No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa for a visit this week. The expectation is that the Wizards are going to select Dybantsa with the first pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. The organization has mentioned they'd be willing to trade the pick, but that seems unlikely unless someone offered them a blockbuster deal. The BYU forward is the consensus first overall pick, so it's hard to imagine the Wizards going in any other direction at this point. They've already met with other top prospects such as North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. This seems like the Wizards are just doing their due diligence as they prepare to select Dybantsa in the upcoming weeks.
Source: New York Times
Source: New York Times
Warriors Hosting Yaxel Lendeborg for Workout
The Golden State Warriors will host pre-draft workouts for prospects Yaxel Lendeborg, Kylan Boswell, and Felix Okpara on Friday. The Warriors currently hold the 11th overall pick during the upcoming NBA Draft. All of these prospects seem to be legitimate options for the team at their current draft position. While these are older prospects, they could potentially make an impact right away in Golden State. Draymond Green isn't getting any younger, so Lendeborg could be a good option for a team like Golden State. This past season, Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 30.2 minutes per game in 40 contests at Michigan. He could be a fit for the Warriors, assuming Lendeborg is still on the draft at that point.
Source: Mark Medina
Source: Mark Medina
Kel'el Ware Could Fetch a First-Round Pick
Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware could be a potential piece in a trade for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. The Heat would likely need to give up a massive package to acquire the superstar forward from Milwaukee. That deal might start with either Tyler Herro or Ware as the centerpiece. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald believes that Ware could fetch a first-round pick by himself. Ware is coming off a solid second season with the Heat. He averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks across 22.1 minutes per game in 77 contests. The Bucks don't exactly need a player like Ware with Myles Turner and Bobby Portis on the roster. They could potentially flip Ware for draft capital, but at that point, trading for Herro would make more sense. The Heat have no interest in trading Ware, but he's one of the few young pieces that the team could include in a blockbuster trade.
Source: Miami Herald
Source: Miami Herald
Miles Bridges Could be Available This Summer
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges was the subject of trade rumors this past season. There was speculation that Bridges would be moved at the trade deadline. That didn't happen, but Bridges still might end up being moved ahead of this year's draft. The veteran forward is heading into the final year of his deal and has a $22.8 million cap hit for next season. The Hornets hold two first-round picks and might be able to use one of those and Bridges to move up in the draft. Last season, Bridges averaged 171. points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 31.0 minutes per game in 77 contests. It wouldn't be shocking to see Bridges playing in another uniform next season, but his fantasy value will be dependent on where he lands.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Source: Sports Illustrated
Jose Alvarado Warns Victor Wembanyama After Game 3 Shove
Knicks reserve guard Jose Alvarado issued a warning to Victor Wembanyama after the Spurs center shoved Jalen Brunson in the back of the head during Monday's Game 3, telling reporters "that'll be the last one," the New York Post reports. Officials missed the first-quarter play, and the NBA is reviewing it for a retroactive flagrant foul after its head of officiating acknowledged a foul was there. That review is the fantasy story. Wembanyama, who poured in 32 points with eight rebounds, six assists, and three blocks in the 115-111 win, already drew a Flagrant-2 ejection earlier this postseason. An upgrade here would leave him one flagrant foul away from an automatic one-game suspension, a live availability risk for DFS managers with the Spurs trailing 2-1 entering Game 4.
Source: Zach Braziller
Source: Zach Braziller
AJ Dybantsa Eyes Spurs-Style Rise Ahead of the Draft
BYU freshman forward AJ Dybantsa used his NBA Finals visit to point to the Spurs' fast rise behind Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle as a model for his own quick success, the Associated Press reports. The projected No. 1 overall pick led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game, adding 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 35 games before declaring for the June 23 draft. The lottery-winning Washington Wizards are widely expected to take him first, though the pick is not yet official. For dynasty and rookie-draft managers, that landing spot is the appeal: a rebuilding team would hand Dybantsa immediate usage and minutes, pointing to strong year-one scoring. His shaky three-point stroke (33.1 percent) and thin steal and block numbers temper the multi-category ceiling, but few incoming rookies offer a cleaner path to volume.
Source: Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
