NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Apr 9, 2026
Lakers Add Luxe Second Row Courtside Seats, Luka Doncic Out
The Lakers are adding a second row of courtside seats for the 2026 playoffs priced at "78 percent" of typical courtside tickets, roughly $15,000 to $30,000 each. The new spots keep the premium chairs and VIP club access and give fans more options since floor seats "have been sold out for the last 50 years." Still, recent injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves leave Los Angeles' postseason hopes and demand for those seats uncertain. Merlin sees this as a clever way to squeeze more gold from an ever-hungry market while offering a slightly cheaper taste of courtside life. If the Lakers stay healthy and make noise into June, the seats will vanish fast. If injuries linger, the team may face a test of whether fans buy hope or only star power. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the second-row courtside seats sell out for the 2026 playoffs: 60%.
LeBron Cancels Golf Amid Lakers' Doncic Reaves Injuries
Merlin sees LeBron James skip a golf date with former teammate J.R. Smith after injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Smith said, "He's like, 'Man, I can't play golf. I've got too much on my shoulders right now. If this was five years ago I would definitely play.'" Both players are expected to miss the start of the 2026 playoffs, so LeBron will shoulder a larger offensive load as the Lakers fight for Western seeding at 50-29. Merlin notes that in his 23rd season LeBron remains dangerous, averaging 20.8 points, 7.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds. With the standings tight, every game becomes a playoff rehearsal. Expect LeBron to lean on veteran craft while role players get chances to rise; depth and fatigue will be the true test of how far the team can go. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers keeping a top-4 seed: 40%.
Apr 9
Sacramento Kings' DeMar DeRozan Claps Back, Chases Shaquille O'Neal
A social post called one of DeMar DeRozan’s career stats "disturbing" and the Kings veteran shot back, writing "Disturbing!? F--k that mean? Who the hell is you to have an opinion on somebody career. Clown!" The note pointed out he needs about 18 points per game over the next 105 games to pass Shaquille O'Neal on the all-time scoring list. DeRozan sits at 26,711 points, 17th all time, and is less than 2,000 points from moving into 10th. Merlin sees a steady scorer refusing to let an online jibe rewrite his legacy. DeRozan has averaged 21.1 points across 17 seasons and never played fewer than 60 games. If health and role remain steady, the climb past Shaq is realistic, not mythical. Watch minutes and usage; those are the small spells that will decide the outcome. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of DeRozan passing Shaq within the next two seasons: 60%.
Apr 9
Stephen Curry Out, Warriors Won't Face LeBron James
Stephen Curry will not face LeBron James in any regular season game after being ruled out Thursday for right knee injury management. The Warriors host the Lakers tonight but are already locked into the No. 10 seed, meaning Curry sits to protect his knee ahead of the play-in. LeBron missed the opener with sciatica, so none of their four meetings this year featured both stars. Curry recently returned from a two month absence, scoring 29 and then 17 off the bench in back to back games, so his health is the key to Golden State’s postseason hopes. Merlin sees the squad balancing short term rest with long term chance. Golden State needs two play-in wins, starting on the road, and a cautious approach to Curry’s minutes makes sense. If his knee holds and the bench keeps producing, the Warriors can still surprise. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Warriors making the playoffs this season: 40%.
Apr 9
76ers' Joel Embiid to Undergo Appendicitis Surgery
Merlin sees Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery Thursday in Houston. He had already been ruled out for the game with an illness, and the Sixers will update his recovery timeline after the procedure. Embiid has fought injuries all season, with a minutes restriction, knee trouble and an oblique issue, and Coach Nick Nurse had hinted he was "nearing his return." When healthy he averages 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds. Merlin warns the timing is cruel. Philadelphia sits 43-36 and eighth in the East, and Tyrese Maxey has kept the team alive. An appendectomy often heals quickly, but recovery can sap minutes and rhythm, so the Sixers will need others to protect the paint while they preserve their MVP for the postseason. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Embiid misses at least the next two weeks: 75%.
Apr 9
NBA Clears Doug Christie Over Seth Curry Foul
The NBA concluded Sacramento coach Doug Christie did not intentionally foul Seth Curry late in Tuesday’s loss. The league found Christie mistakenly believed Golden State was not in the penalty and told his players to foul to stop the clock and use a timeout. The probe ruled there was no deliberate effort to give the Warriors a shooting foul or to cost the Kings the game. With Sacramento sitting 21-59 and tanking talk loud, the decision still lands amid a looming May 28 Board of Governors vote on anti-tanking proposals. Merlin sees a simple misread amplified by the season’s stakes. Draymond Green griped, "I get fined when I do wrong. Fine the hell out of people," and Christie insists, "Tanking is the last thing [I'd do]." Expect every late-game choice to feel suspect as the league pushes for clearer rules. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Board approves anti-tanking rules before the draft: 70%.
Apr 9
Brown Carries Celtics Toward Fifth Straight vs Knicks
Merlin sees a simple prize on the line. A Celtics win Thursday over the Knicks would clinch Boston a fifth straight Atlantic Division title and lock up the No. 2 seed in the East as the playoffs near. Boston (54-25) rides a four-game streak, while New York (51-28) leads the season series 2-1 after a 111-89 win in Boston on Feb. 8. Merlin notes the run is more impressive given the losses this year, including Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles and veterans like Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford. Coach Joe Mazzulla steadied the ship and Jaylen Brown became the engine, posting career highs and saying, "From a financial standpoint, this was a rebuild, right? But I didn't look at it like that" and "I looked at it as an opportunity to show the world who I am." Boston looks like a favorite in the East, but depth questions remain without Tatum. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Boston beating New York Thursday and clinching the Atlantic Division: 70%.
Apr 9
Jaylen Brown Uses Astrology and Numerology to Lead Celtics
Merlin sees Jaylen Brown turning to astrology, numerology and red light therapy as part of a deliberate push to be Boston’s on-court leader while Jayson Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles. He “read and meditated,” studied teammates’ charts and numerology, and told reporters, “If it only worked 10%, it's worth it to me.” The approach coincides with Brown’s best statistical season ever, with career highs in points (28.8), rebounds (7.0) and assists (5.2), and play that has felt MVP-like at times. Merlin notes skeptics will roll their eyes, but belief shapes behavior. Whether by charts or conversation, Brown is tailoring how he leads, and that personalization can lift chemistry. Keep an eye on fatigue and how the roster reacts when normal roles return; rituals alone do not win championships, but confident rituals can steer a team through stormy seas. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Jaylen Brown finishing top 10 in MVP voting this season: 35%.
Apr 9
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Cooper Flagg Dominates 2025 Redraft
Front offices get high marks in this re-draft of the 2025 class. The top five remain the same names, though the order shifts: Cooper Flagg still sits atop the board, backed by rookie-level LeBron-like numbers and even LeBron calling him "obviously special." Several teams would have chosen instant fits over long-term boom or bust, with the Spurs, Sixers and Hornets facing clear choice spots and some midfirst-round surprises like Khaman Maluach and Egor Dёmin rising. Merlin sees a league that prized readiness this year. Teams leaned into players who could plug in now rather than wait for flashes to fully bloom. As seasons unfold, those choices will read either wise or cautious. Expect debates over upside versus impact to keep scouts and fans arguing into next summer. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cooper Flagg winning Rookie of the Year: 78%.
Apr 9
AJ Dybantsa Overtakes Darryn Peterson For NBA Draft No 1
Jeremy Woo bumped BYU wing AJ Dybantsa to No. 1 on his latest draft big board, leapfrogging Kansas sharpshooter Darryn Peterson and Duke big man Cameron Boozer. Woo wrote that Dybantsa "has positioned himself as the easiest answer at No. 1," and Jonathan Wasserman highlighted a 60.0 true shooting percentage and second‑half tape that shows he can carry a team. With the draft on June 25, the order can shift, but Dybantsa has pulled ahead in the debate. Merlin sees a prospect whose scoring and two‑way promise appeal to teams seeking a foundational wing. Fit, workouts and late evaluations will still shape the story, yet Dybantsa’s blend of production and upside gives him the aura of a safe top pick rather than a boom or bust gamble. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of AJ Dybantsa being selected No. 1 overall: 65%.
Apr 9
Oklahoma City Thunder Clinch West Top Seed, Spurs Locked In
The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the West’s No. 1 seed and the league’s best record with a 128-110 win over the Clippers, which also locked the San Antonio Spurs into No. 2. The rest of the West is unsettled: the Denver Nuggets sit third but are only 1.5 games clear of the Lakers and Rockets and still must play Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The Clippers and Trail Blazers are battling for the final playoff spot with one more regular season meeting on Friday. In the East the Knicks hold a tiebreaker on the Cavaliers while the play-in picture remains crowded from 5 through 9. Merlin sees homecourt shaping how this bracket unfolds. Denver’s thin cushion and brutal finish make their grip on third feel fragile. Lakers uncertainty with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves hurt could ripple through the bracket. The play-in promises chaos and a few late-season momentum swings before April 14. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Denver holds the No. 3 seed: 30%.
Apr 9
Tyrese Haliburton Back in Five on Five After Achilles
Merlin sees Tyrese Haliburton taking a clear step forward in his Achilles comeback. The Indiana star, hurt in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, says he “just started playing like three-on-three and four-on-four full-court,” and he just completed his first five-on-five since the injury. Indiana’s 18-61 slide makes his return essential if the Pacers want to turn a high draft pick into a contender. Merlin remembers Haliburton as an All-NBA Third-Team catalyst who carried Indiana to the Finals. Recovery is more than minutes on the court; it is about timing, confidence, and late-game poise. The progress is promising, but Merlin warns that form, not just health, will decide whether the Pacers rise quickly or need more time. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Haliburton being healthy and ready for opening night 2026-27: 65%.
Apr 8
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard Unveils New Balance Kawhi 5
Kawhi Leonard’s fifth signature shoe with New Balance, the "Kawhi 5", was unveiled Wednesday. The model pairs a premium soft upper for lockdown and comfort with a dual-density FuelCell midsole and a Y-Plate at the forefoot. It will launch summer 2026 and comes with an apparel capsule including a lightweight warm-up jacket, tapered performance shorts and a breathable training tee. Leonard first showed the shoe during the 2026 All-Star events and has been with New Balance since 2018. Merlin sees the timing as smart. Kawhi is in peak form this season, a seventh All-Star averaging a career-high 28.1 points while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three. A low-key, performance-first signature line fits his brand and could give New Balance more traction among players and collectors when the first colorway drops. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Kawhi 5 becomes New Balance’s top-selling basketball shoe in its first year: 40%.
Apr 8
Anthony Davis Still Stunned After Lakers Trade for Luka Doncic
Anthony Davis said he was stunned to learn he was traded from the Lakers to the Mavericks in the Luka Doncic deal. On The Draymond Green Show he reenacted Nico Harrison's call: "Yeah, I told you I was gonna come get you one day, I wanted you," and replied "Huh?!" He thought it was a joke until Shams Charania's tweet confirmed it and he felt "my heart is in my stomach." Davis accepted the business logic, "Luka is f--king Luka," but said he "deserved much more respect for all the time I've been there." Merlin sees a veteran hurt more by the silence than the swap. The deal makes sense on paper but sloppy communication damages trust and locker room morale. Front offices will be watched. How teams handle stars after moves may matter as much as the moves themselves. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Anthony Davis re-signing long term with the Wizards: 20%.
Apr 8
NBA Board to Vote May 28 on Draft Lottery
Merlin sees the league moving to fix tanking. The NBA Board of Governors is set to vote May 28 on rule changes aimed at discouraging losing for better draft odds, with owners pushing for action before the 2026 draft on June 22. Adam Silver told reporters "We are going to fix it… full stop." Options range from flattened lottery odds for 18 teams to a 22-team, two-season ranking and a "five-by-five" model. The flattened-odds plan has the most momentum. Merlin notes flattened odds could blunt the incentive to tank, but change will ripple through roster building and draft strategy. As Shams Charania said, "the proposed concept with the most momentum right now," and there will be "unintended consequences" to all of this. The May 28 vote will reveal how owners balance fairness, competition, and future scheming. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Board approves the flattened-odds plan on May 28: 60%.
Apr 8
NBA Investigates Controversial Kings Foul on Seth Curry
The NBA is investigating the Sacramento Kings' intentional foul on Warriors guard Seth Curry late in Golden State's 110-105 win after Kings forward Doug McDermott fouled Curry with just over three minutes left. Kings sources told Shams Charania that coach Doug Christie "felt like he had a foul to give" to secure a free timeout, but the play instead produced free throws and a late lead change. Warriors forward Draymond Green reacted, "I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go for no reason." Merlin sees a small rule error blown up by big stakes. With the league debating anti-tanking measures and the Kings at 21-59, the probe will judge intent and teach coaches about timeout mechanics. Expect a fine or official guidance meant to curb gamesmanship and tidy up the endgame rulebook. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the NBA fining the Kings or Doug Christie over the incident: 60%.
Apr 8
Golden State Aims To Lock Up Steve Kerr
Merlin sees the Warriors quietly pressing for stability. Golden State would prefer a multiyear deal for Steve Kerr rather than a one-year stopgap, NBA insider Jake Fischer reports, noting "One whisper you do hear emanating from the Bay Area, however, is that the Warriors would prefer to extend Kerr for longer than one season if they ultimately agree to terms on a new deal." With the Warriors 37-42 and facing the play-in, the outcome of this stretch and the health of key players will shape whether the club bets on continuity or looks for a new direction. Merlin senses the tug of history. Kerr’s championship résumé buys patience, but another early exit could turn patience into pressure. The team’s preference for a longer deal shows they value steady hands, yet results and recoveries in 2026-27 will decide the true fate. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Kerr signs a multiyear extension this offseason: 65%.
Apr 8
JJ Redick Questions Deandre Ayton After Lakers Rout
The Lakers were pummeled 123-87 by the Thunder without LeBron, Luka and Austin Reaves, and coach JJ Redick zeroed in on Deandre Ayton’s struggles, saying, "He's having trouble catching the ball." Ayton finished with three points, three rebounds and 23 minutes as he slides to career lows in points, boards and minutes after signing a two-year, $16.21 million deal intended to fix L.A.’s interior woes. Merlin senses a familiar riddle. Once a No. 1 pick who averaged double-doubles, Ayton now delivers uneven, sometimes "empty" numbers and draws effort questions. The Lakers lack a better center right now, so his lapses get exposed whenever stars rest or miss time. If Ayton cannot reclaim consistent positioning and hands, Los Angeles risks another short postseason. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers reaching the Western Conference Finals this season: 15%.
Apr 8
Billy Donovan Could Leave the Chicago Bulls
The Bulls' front office upheaval, with Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley fired, has left head coach Billy Donovan's future unclear. Insider Jake Fischer reported Donovan "is expected to draw interest from other NBA teams this spring." Chicago extended Donovan last summer and denied the Knicks permission to interview him, yet the team is 30-49 and set to miss the playoffs again. CEO Michael Reinsdorf defended Donovan: "If I interview someone and they're not sold on Billy, they're not sold on a Hall of Fame coach." Merlin sees the coaching market stirring like a cauldron. A 60 year old coach with Donovan's resume and a multiyear deal can be tempted by fresh projects, especially with his top executives gone. Reinsdorf's public support helps, but outside teams will probe Chicago and test how badly the organization wants to keep him. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Billy Donovan leaving the Bulls this offseason: 40%.
Apr 8
Doc Rivers And More: 12 Potential NBA Coaching Changes
Merlin sees nearly half the NBA on the brink of change after 2025-26, as Jake Fischer reports one source expects "eight to 12" head coaching changes. Big names are already in play: the Bucks could part with Doc Rivers, Taylor Jenkins "has already emerged as a likely prime candidate" for multiple openings, and interim coaches in New Orleans and Portland may get full-time looks. Orlando, Washington and Sacramento are also being watched closely. The oracle notes some footholds of stability. Chicago wants to keep Billy Donovan, and Sacramento's Doug Christie has contract protection and injury context that create "scenarios" for retention. Coaching churn will ripple into front offices and free agency, producing familiar names recycled and a few unexpected fits as teams push for quick turnarounds. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Expect 10 head coaching changes this offseason; odds 60%.
Apr 8
Wizards Keep 2026 First Round Pick, Knicks Get Seconds
The Wizards will avoid sending their 2026 first-round pick to the Knicks after falling to 17-62, a loss that locked in a bottom-three finish and a top-seven draft slot. That ends the obligation for the Knicks to receive Washington’s "top-eight protected" 2026 first-rounder; New York will instead get the Wizards’ second-round picks in 2026 and 2027. The trade history of that pick traces back through deals involving Russell Westbrook, John Wall, the Rockets and Thunder, and it now leaves the Knicks with only one first-rounder over the next two years. Merlin sees the ripple effects. Washington keeps a real chance at a rookie who could help their rebuild, while New York gains quantity but loses high-end upside. The Knicks can flip those seconds or use them as trade bait, but turning them into core talent is unlikely. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Knicks turn a 2026–27 second-rounder into a regular rotation player within two seasons: 25%.
Apr 8
Cade Cunningham Expected Back vs Bucks After Collapsed Lung
Merlin sees Cade Cunningham, out since March 17 with a collapsed lung after diving for a loose ball, is expected to return Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, per ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill. Detroit, the East’s No. 1 seed, will be careful; coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, "Both of them are progressing. They are doing more and more each day." Cunningham leads Detroit at 24.5 points and 9.9 assists. Merlin notes the timing is delicate. With the playoffs a breath away, the Pistons will likely ease him back in via short bursts to avoid setbacks. A healthy Cunningham quickly changes Detroit’s ceiling, but rust and load management will shape how big that change looks in round one. Watch the final three regular season games for clues. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cade playing meaningful minutes in Game 1 of the playoffs: 65%.
Apr 8
Giannis Looms As Nets Trade Bridges To Knicks
Merlin sees Brooklyn quietly shift plans after concluding they could not land Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo right away. The Nets once envisioned pairing Giannis with Mikal Bridges in 2023-24, but when that interest was rebuffed they traded Bridges to the Knicks and restarted their approach. After ESPN described what one source called "as toxic of a team situation as any in the league," Giannis looks increasingly likely to be available, and Brooklyn is expected to inquire once the offseason opens. The oracle notes the hard truth: a marquee star will not fix a 20-59 record or patch an empty stable of young assets. Michael Porter Jr. and a pile of draft picks are Brooklyn’s currency, but Milwaukee will demand a clean rebuild. Sean Marks can keep shopping his picks, yet summoning Giannis will take patience, luck, and the right constellation of pieces. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Nets land Giannis within two seasons: 25%.
Apr 8
Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Talks Heat Up With Celtics
Merlin sees Boston circling if Milwaukee truly shops Giannis Antetokounmpo. League whispers say the Celtics "are known to have interest," and Giannis has repeatedly said he "wants to play for a contender." With one guaranteed year at $58.5 million and a window to sign a four-year, $275 million extension next fall, any trade would force Boston into major salary moves and roster sacrifices while they chase another title. Merlin knows the math and the mood. Boston would free Vucevic’s $21.5 million to create roughly $24 million under the first apron, but fitting Giannis plus long deals for Tatum and Brown likely needs more trades or audacious offers. The Bucks want elite pieces and proof Giannis would re-sign, so a summer tango is possible but far from certain. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis landing in Boston this offseason: 20%.
Apr 8
NBA Tanking Explodes Wizards Kings Among Culprits
Merlin sees the league wrestling with a growing tanking epidemic. Multiple executives told ESPN it is rampant because it works, with one GM noting teams "are doing the whole gamut: sitting guys in the fourth, playing analytically bad lineups, drawing up plays for bad shots." Several clubs sit near the bottom as they chase the deep 2026 draft class, and the NBA has floated major changes to the lottery and record rules to blunt the incentive. Merlin senses unrest on the floor. Players resent veterans and contract-year guys being benched for random call-ups — "That s--t will piss anyone off," a player said. The board of governors has three proposals on the table including lottery-odds tweaks, multi-year records, and a win floor. Expect negotiation, compromise, and one clear rule change before next season. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the NBA will pass anti-tanking reform before next season: 85%.
Apr 8