Giannis Antetokounmpo
For the first time in his career, Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Bucks, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
This feels like Antetokounmpo soft-launching a trade request that has already been decided upon. That's so frequently the subtext to reports like this.
For Antetokounmpo, the choice is somewhat simple: Does he want to spend his entire career with Milwaukee, or does he want to compete for more championships?
The Bucks are not close – not with Damian Lillard injured, this roster expensive and old and nearly all future picks already traded away. Short of another star demanding a trade specifically to Milwaukee – and that's already pushing the bounds of realism – there is no realistic path back into contention with Antetokounmpo anytime soon.
Antetokounmpo could always delay his decision. Once traded, he can't spend his entire career with the Bucks. He can always leave later.
But Milwaukee has been declining for years. He has had plenty of time to assess the situation – including many previous years people thought he'd bolt.
This one might finally be it.
Milwaukee Bucks
"Internally, the Bucks believe they have more functionality than they have had in years because they have exceptions in free agency and a draft pick to trade."
A draft pick to trade! A draft pick to trade! A draft pick to trade!
I don't know whether the Bucks are trying to project strength or just delusional.
This summer, Milwaukee will be able to trade its 2032 first-round pick. I suppose that qualifies as a lot, given where this team has been. But it is not some haul.
The Bucks could have their $14 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but only because Brook Lopez's contract is expiring. Without the Lopez who anchored its defense and spaced the floor, Milwaukee will be worse. That Lopez might be gone regardless due to aging, but that's the point. At best, the Bucks are patching holes on a sinking ship.
They might have more spending power in free agency now, but the Bucks were actually way more flexible when Lopez earned more money – because they could have traded him for major value.
To the extent the Bucks still have functionality, it's in how much they can trade Giannis Antetokounmpo for.
Giannis Antetokounmpo-Rockets
The Rockets view acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo as their most intriguing path this summer, according to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Houston has resisted accelerating its rise, especially for an older star. But Antetokounmpo is special and, even at 30, should have plenty of good years ahead.
The Rockets have the players and picks to make Milwaukee a very competitive offer. Amen Thompson could be the best single asset offered for Antetokounmpo – if Houston even offers Thompson. Though the fit of Antetokounmpo and Thompson would be tricky, there's value in having that combination of athleticism and talent at forward – then hoping they figure out how to play together.
Even if keeping Thompson, the Rockets could build a package including Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and picks.
Of course, it also depends what Antetokounmpo wants. It's hard to see the Bucks – after all he has meant to them – trading him somewhere he doesn't want to go.
Devin Booker-Rockets
The Rockets no longer hold serious interest in Devin Booker, according to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Houston was reportedly once loading up on Phoenix picks expressly because they'd hold more value in a Booker trade. But the Rockets were turned off by Booker's season, and they still believe in Jalen Green, per Iko and Green.
Booker definitely disappointed this season. Green is younger and cheaper. But Green also has precisely one playoff game with more than 12 points.
I'm not convinced Houston should trade for Booker. I don't know the cost, don't know what else is available.
But based on reports of their plan (which, in fairness, might be counterintelligence leaked for leverage), I remain concerned the Rockets are letting too many pitches go by.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is "very interested" in joining the Rockets, but they're hesitant due to his age (36), according to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
If they had Durant, would the Rockets have beaten the Warriors in the first round? If they had Durant, would the Rockets be beating the Timberwolves in the second round?
Durant's age makes him an imperfect fit. But his individual scoring would be a massive value add to Houston's dreadful halfcourt offense.
The Rockets' core young players might peak later, but they're already pretty darned good and mostly still on relatively cheap rookie-scale contracts. There's a window now to add someone like Durant.
Again, I'm even less convinced Houston should trade for Durant. I don't know the cost, don't know what else is available.
But based on reports of their plan (which, in fairness, might be counterintelligence leaked for leverage), I remain concerned the Rockets are letting too many pitches go by.
Pacers-Cavaliers
Pacers 80, Cavaliers 39 at halftime yesterday.
There has never been a more lopsided half in playoff history.
In the first half of Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference finals, the Cavaliers also outscored the Celtics by 41.
Donovan Mitchell
If Donovan Mitchell – who'll be a game-time decision with his ankle injury, according to Shams Charania of ESPN – misses Game 5, the 2025 Cavaliers will become the first team in NBA history to have three different All-Stars miss games in a single postseason.
If you're wondering about a denominator on that, 158 teams have made the playoffs with three All-Stars (give or take in-season trades).
Evan Mobley and Darius Garland missed time previously for Cleveland.
Mitchell Robinson
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson air-balled a free throw so badly Saturday, he immediately hunched over and clutched the back of his head in agony.
It wasn't even definitively his worst missed free throw of the series.
Robinson's missed free throws are defining his second-round series against the Celtics. He has shot just 7-of-23 from the line (30%) in 62 minutes.
That's a missed free throw every 3.9 minutes he has been on the court – second-most frequent ever in a series (minimum: 20 minutes).
In the 2012 Western Conference finals, the Spurs' Tiago Splitter missed a free throw every 3.8 minutes against the Thunder. He shot just 9-of-23 (39%) in 53 minutes.
With Boston hacking Robinson, Robinson helping New York otherwise and Robinson in a crisis of confidence, this will be a hard slump for him to bust.
Nuggets-Thunder
The Nuggets yesterday had one of the best playoff games in NBA history… for a team that scored single-digit points in the first quarter.
Denver's eight first-quarter points against the Thunder are the fewest first-quarter points in a playoff game since 2016, when the Celtics fell behind 24-7 en route to a 89-72 loss to the Hawks.
Teams that scored single digits in the first quarter of a playoff game are 1-17 (0-8 shot-clock era). The only win was by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1950. They weren't even trailing after the first quarter, though! They were tied 7-7 with the Anderson Packers after the first quarter.
Really, it's remarkable the Nuggets lost by just five. Since that 1950 Lakers-Packers game, every team that scored single digits in the opening quarter of a playoff game had lost by 10+.
Weekend
Watch Nate and Danny discuss Saturday's and Sunday's games:
-Dan Feldman