Finals Prediction! Go [Redacted], Go [Redacted], Go
I love going to the NBA Finals, but I don’t request credentials unless the series is relatively close to home near Los Angeles. I’ve spent many years in No. Cal. watching the Golden State Warriors and here in L.A. with the Lakers, but I’m not making the trek to San Antonio or New York.
This time of year is primarily spent prepping for free agency, the draft, and the accompanying trade season. Still, I’ll be glued to the games, hoping for a competitive, long series that goes at least six, if not seven games.
I sent in my take on what’s to come here: B/R Staff Predictions for 2026 NBA Finals Between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. But, I’ll spoil it here as well.
I was born in New York, still have family there, and have always had some love for the Knicks. As I’ve spent a couple of decades in the industry, I “root” more for friends I’ve made along the way. I wouldn’t say I’m buddies with Coach Mike Brown in New York, but he was very gracious when he was with the Lakers as head coach, especially when I wanted to talk to my girls’ team after post-game press conferences.
Equally, I know several folks within the Spurs organization, including one I helped tutor, before he earned his position. Spending years around Gregg Popovich was inspiring. Yes, he snapped at me more than once in a press conference. Pop had no patience for what he perceived to be an unnecessary question. Still, I got a few off-the-record, casual moments with Popovich behind the scenes, and he’s a tremendous human being.
The Jalen Brunson story is wonderful, as he was never expected to be this good (obviously, that depends on whose expectations we’re referring to). Victor Wembanyama represents the love of the game extremely well.
I’m leaving out a lot here, as there’s heroes on both sides (at least to me). I’ll shout out to Jordan Clarkson, who was a blast to cover through his early years in L.A.
I’ve got the Spurs in 6. I believe the attack guards en masse on San Antonio’s side too much for the Knicks to handle, and Wembanyama is an incredible deterrent at the basket. When I go 6, it means I think one team is better than the other, but not significantly so. This shouldn’t be a short series; it’s one the Knicks can absolutely win if they play to the best of their ability (and they have this postseason, remarkably so).
Can’t wait til tip…
My editors asked me to predict where some of the top potential free agents will land this summer. It’s slightly early, as the NBA Draft will shift teams’ priorities, but after much research, here’s my take: Bold 2026 NBA Free Agency Predictions for LeBron James, James Harden, and Other Stars.
Names on the list include Austin Reaves, Trae Young, Keon Ellis, CJ McCollum, Peyton Watson, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, Jalen Duren, Harden, and James.
Spoiler: Only a few teams have significant spending power this summer, primarily the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Lakers. Other franchises can get to cap room via trade, or difficult decisions like opting Jonathan Kuminga out of his final year with the Atlanta Hawks.
With limited resources, most free agents are destined to return. The question becomes price and the number of years. That also suggests the teams have greater leverage than the players, and while that may be true to an extent, working deals is complicated, and compromise is key.
I look forward to seeing how close I end up!
Continuing my series on Giannis Antetokounmpo, I had previously written an Evan Mobley scenario with the Cleveland Cavaliers landing the former NBA MVP (Ranking Top Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Packages). But I’ve contemplated a scenario in which the Milwaukee Bucks covet a guard instead of Mobley.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder falling out of the playoffs to the Spurs and a massive luxury tax bill mounting, I could see a path where the Thunder look to restructure financially.
No, that doesn’t mean Antetokounmpo to Oklahoma City. But I could see Jalen Williams on the move, especially when less expensive players like Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain have provided so much for the Thunder. Unfortunately, Williams was hurt for much of the year and into the playoffs. The expectation is that he’ll be fine well before next season.
Additionally, the Thunder have difficult decisions to make on Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, who have team options. I’d heard that there’s a strong connection between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort that may lead to his return. That may or may not be significant, but there may be mutual interest between Hartenstein and the Brooklyn Nets.
Here, the Thunder land Mobley from the Bucks, with Williams to Cleveland, and the Nets in the mix for Hartenstein, etc. It’s an interesting concept, but I ran through the minutiae to ensure no apron restrictions were broached—difficult given that the Cleveland and Oklahoma City are projected to hit July over the second apron.
Here’s the link: A 4-Team Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade That Actually Makes Sense. It’s a fun read, in my humble(ish) opinion.