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USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Is there a trade package from the Boston Celtics that could get Cooper Flagg on the roster?
Is there a trade package from the Boston Celtics that could get Cooper Flagg on the roster? Is there a trade package from the Boston Celtics that could get Cooper Flagg on the roster? Such a question normally would be a bit of a stretch, but with the Celtics future murky after the Achilles Tendon injury to star forward Jayson Tatum and a historic payroll and tax bill on the way, anything is possible when talking about the team that dealt away Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Or is it? The folks behind the "New England Sports Network" YouTube channel put together a clip exploring the possibility of a trade that would send Flagg to the Celtics, and while we are dubious even Boston's best offer would be enough to tip the scales, it is an exercise at least worth having. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about whether such a wild outcome could ever actually happen.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Finals odds: Oklahoma City Thunder are biggest favorites in franchise history vs. Indiana Pacers
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 after dispatching the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. They will face the Indiana Pacers, who knocked off the New York Knicks in six games on Saturday night, and the Thunder are overwhelming favorites in the series. In fact, Oklahoma City is the biggest finals favorite in franchise history. The Thunder opened as -800 favorites in the NBA Finals at BetMGM, with the Pacers as +550 underdogs. Advertisement Oklahoma City was a -175 favorite back in the 2012 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, but ended up losing the series in five games. The Seattle SuperSonics were -140 favorites in the 1978 NBA Finals against the Washington Bullets, per Sports Odds History. The biggest favorites in NBA Finals history were the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers, who were -2000 against the Philadelphia 76ers and won the series in five games. The 2018 champion Golden State Warriors were the second biggest of all time as -1075 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Who were the biggest favorites to lose in the Finals? Well, that again would be the Lakers, who fell as -700 favorites to the 2004 Detroit Pistons. Oklahoma City has arguably been the best team in the league all season, going 68-14 in the tough Western Conference to earn the No. 1 seed, which included a historic 55-23-4 record against the spread in the regular season — the best ATS mark in 35 seasons. Advertisement While the Thunder have struggled against the spread in the postseason (7-9 ATS), they have been impressive and won games when it has mattered most — winning Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals and hitting clutch shot after clutch shot in Game 4 against the Timberwolves in the last round. The Pacers are in the finals for only the second time in franchise history (in 2000 they lost to the -800 favorite Los Angeles Lakers in six games) and have been impressive in the postseason, winning seven games outright as underdogs. Indiana was a -190 favorite at sportsbooks in its Round 1 series against a banged-up Milwaukee Bucks team, before being underdogs (+425 series price) against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Knicks (+135) in the last two rounds. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ABC. The Thunder are 9-point home favorites with a total of 229.5.
Associated Press
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Thunder guard Alex Caruso is getting a 2nd NBA Finals chance, this time with fans
Alex Caruso is the only current Oklahoma City Thunder player who has previous experience playing in the NBA Finals. That said, even he has no idea what this year's series will feel like. Caruso was on the Los Angeles Lakers team that beat the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals in the bubble at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, meaning the games were played all in one place, with almost no fans, and an atmosphere that will in no way compare to what awaits when this year's finals start in Oklahoma City on Thursday night. 'The finals in the bubble still had the tangible feel of a finals,' Caruso said. 'You knew what was up for grabs. That adrenaline before the game, obviously, I don't think it would probably be the same adrenaline level that you feel with fans, just being on the other side of it now. But understanding what's at stake was still very apparent.' The Thunder will take on either Indiana or New York in this year's series. Game 1 is in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder are 43-7 this season. They're 80-18 this season overall — not counting a loss in the NBA Cup title game, which doesn't count — and that's why Caruso doesn't feel the need to do a whole lot of how-to-handle-the-finals coaching right now. 'You don't have to do anything special. You just have to be who we are,' Caruso said. 'That's worked for us throughout this whole year. So, I'm just continuing to emphasize with the guys, just do what we've done all year. Compete at a high level, play together, play as a team. When we do that, we're pretty good.' At 31, Caruso is the old man of the Thunder — the oldest player on the roster, despite there being more than 80 other active players in the NBA older than he is right now. The NBA said the Thunder are the second-youngest team to make the finals in the last 70 seasons, with an average age of 25.56. That's about a half-year per player older than Portland was when the Trail Blazers made the finals in 1977. 'We've got one of the youngest teams in the league still,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'And these guys are growing at a really rapid rate. And we've had a lot of individual players really grow quickly and grow in impactful ways in a short period of time.' But they rely on Caruso in many ways as well. A team loaded with young talent — MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren — is still willing to listen and learn, which is where Caruso comes in. 'There's never a second where he's not engaged in the competition, fully engaged in the competition,' said Daigneault, who coached Caruso with the G League's Oklahoma City Blue and coaches him now with the Thunder. 'And I think that right there, the contagiousness of that and the consistency of that, is really the impact. It doesn't matter if it's a drill in shootaround or whether it's a side out of bounds play on a short shot clock. That guy, Alex Caruso, is completely engaged in that moment.' And Caruso will be completely engaged in the finals, with hopes of getting a second ring — and a first parade. Those 2020 finals ended in October because of the COVID-interrupted year, and training camps resumed just a few weeks later. There was no traditional offseason after that title by the Lakers, and Caruso still laments missing out on some of the fun. 'There's parts of winning a championship that I didn't get to experience through that first championship,' Caruso said. 'I never got to go on a parade. The turnaround for the next season was like a month. I went to Cabo for a couple of days and then started working out again because the next season was about to start. There's a little bit of enjoying the success that I didn't get to necessarily participate in. But I've got another chance to get it done and try again with fans and with a parade and all that.' ___ AP NBA:
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić is set to appear in LeBron James and Steve Nash's podcast Mind The Game
LeBron James and Luka Doncic via Instagram With the NBA season gradually inching towards the D-day, the Los Angeles Lakers had to witness an early exit from the postseason. Undoubtedly, the Lakers have a phenomenal fan following across the globe and even have a history of nurturing the best talents in the world of the NBA. As the Lakers are gradually moving towards an important off-season, from fans to basketball critics and analysts, all are curious about the roster as well as the future of the team in the upcoming NBA season. With the buzz around Luka Dončić in the Lakers' roster, the Slovenian star is all set to join LeBron James and Steve Nash on the widely watched podcast Mind the Game. Luka Dončić would be sharing a seat with LeBron James and Steve Nash on Mind The Game The great chemistry between the Lakers' legend LeBron James and Luka Dončić is not only evident on the basketball court but also can be spotted beyond the clubhouse. According to a recent update, Dončić would be sharing a seat alongside LeBron James and Steve Nash on the widely watched podcast Mind the Game. BREAKING: Luka Dončić will be a guest on LeBron James' 'Mind the Game Podcast' on Sunday, alongside LeBron's co-host, Steve Nash! The Los Angeles Lakers fans cannot contain their excitement and are looking forward to witnessing the great camaraderie between Luka Dončić and LeBron James alongside co-host Steve Nash this weekend. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo With Doncic being in the spotlight, accompanied by the NBA icon LeBron James, it is quite understandable that the podcast episode would be more about the plus points and loopholes of the Los Angeles Lakers as well as their interesting yet organic chemistry. Previously, Mind The Game was hosted by the Los Angeles Lakers' coach, JJ Reddick, and LeBron James. However, after becoming the face of the Lakers, Reddick decided to discontinue his job as a basketball podcaster and started focusing more on the overall performance of the Los Angeles Lakers. Also Read: 5 LeBron James' achievements Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić is yet to achieve
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Mavericks Reportedly Exploring Pathway To Land Multi-Time All-Star
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 18: General manager of the Dallas Mavericks Nico Harrison looks on before ... More the game of the Play-In Tournament against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on April 18, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) The Dallas Mavericks voluntarily kick-started one of the most topsy-turvy months-long roller coaster rides in NBA history. They discretely dealt beloved franchise star Luka Doncic to a hated rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. The backlash was unlike anything Rick Welts has seen in the Mavericks CEO and Hall of Fame executive's over 50 years of working in professional basketball. But then came another improbability: Dallas defied the odds at the NBA draft lottery, overcoming a 1.8 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. By moving up a record-setting 10 spots, the organization is now in a position to bring in a new face of the franchise, generational prospect Cooper Flagg. "I don't think there's ever been quite a reversal of fortune in our league as happened that night," said Welts at The Wall Street Journal's "The Future of Everything" event at The Glasshouse in New York City on Wednesday. Adding a potential superstar who doesn't turn 19 until December on a rookie contract could keep the Mavericks competitive into the foreseeable future. But with Flagg's ability to make an immediate impact and a roster with stars in Anthony Davis, 32, and Kyrie Irving, 33, Dallas is also looking to strike now. According to Marc Stein on the NBA insider's Substack, The Stein Line, Dallas is pondering if there's a pathway to bringing Jrue Holiday aboard this summer. "League sources say Dallas is expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways to Boston's Jrue Holiday — complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday's contract." The 15-year veteran averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals this season. Upon the campaign's conclusion, he expressed his desire to remain with the Celtics. "I think we still have a really, really great opportunity and a great window to be successful and win a championship again," voiced Holiday at exit interviews. "I think the talent that we have on this team, not only on the court but the coaching staff, all the way up to [Celtics president of basketball operations] Brad [Stevens], has been amazing. The opportunity to win is now, and I still want to be a part of it." However, Jayson Tatum's franchise-altering injury may force Boston's hand. The Celtics might spend this summer getting under the second apron to create more financial and roster flexibility long term. As of now, the 2023-24 NBA champions, who have spent the last couple of seasons over the second apron, do not have access to the taxpayer mid-level exception, a valuable tool that could've helped them remain competitive without Tatum. They can only trade the 28th overall selection in this year's draft, plus one of their first-round choices in 2026 or 2027, and a 2030 pick swap. They've parted with their 2028 and 2029 first-round draft capital. They cannot trade their 2031 pick since their 2032 first-round selection is frozen. There are also steep financial repercussions for the franchise's exorbitant payroll in recent years. For instance, even if Boston gets under the second apron this summer, the Celtics will have to pay approximately $5.5 for every dollar spent at their repeater rate. That means Sam Hauser's team-friendly $10 million salary for the upcoming season effectively escalates to $55 million. So, while the organization's preference is likely to keep Holiday, he's on the books for $32.4 million for the 2025-26 campaign. The two-time NBA champion turns 35 in June. With the Celtics' championship hopes deflated by Tatum's injury, there's a ripe opportunity for a team like the Mavericks to acquire the two-way guard. Holiday, a six-time All-Defensive team selection, would help a team in need at that end. He'd also give them another ball handler, helping Dallas navigate the time Irving misses while rehabbing from a torn ACL. The cost of adding a decorated player who's a valuable voice in the locker room and brings emotional stability with his even-keeled approach on the court, could entail a package along the lines of center Daniel Gafford going to Boston while a third party receives a player like forward P.J. Washington and Dwight Powell. That team, likely one with cap space, like the Brooklyn Nets or Detroit Pistons, would also figure to add draft capital for taking on those contracts. It's an illustration of how the Celtics could be in store for a dramatic roster makeover this summer. That figures to benefit multiple teams. Perhaps none more than the Mavericks if they pull off a trade for Holiday.
