Pistons Notes: 60-Win Season, Playoffs, Pick Swap, Smith
The Pistons secured the third 60-win season in franchise history by defeating the lottery-bound Pacers on Sunday. They’ll now await their first-round opponent in a series that begins on Sunday night.
“It’s a sign of the work that’s been done by everybody who’s a part of this,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. “Front office, coaching staff, players, medical staff — everybody that’s touched these guys and helped them with that consistency, with that effort. It’s a group thing. Everybody who’s been part of it should be celebrated for it. But again, our work’s not done. That’s the mentality that we have, but there is an appreciation and respect for all of the work that everybody’s put in to help us get here.”
Veteran forward Tobias Harris, a free agent after the season, has been impressed by his teammates’ even keel approach.
“I think we’ve done a great job of handling success this season,” Harris said. “Just being able to weather the storm, really lock in with one another, communicate and just pull for one another in whatever we’re doing. We had guys, including myself, in and out of the lineup with injuries earlier in the year. Everybody just stepped up and has been super supportive of the next guy getting ready. The guy who is up takes on the challenge of being their best. We’ve had great moments from different guys excelling, playing and showing who they are in this league. Some amazing stories have come about from our group. So we just embrace all of it.”
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- They lost in the first round to the Knicks last season following the worst season in franchise history. They certainly won’t just be happy to make the postseason this time around. They’re coming in as the No. 1 seed in the East with their sights set on the Finals. “Playoffs, man. We’re excited about it. Playoffs are on the mind,” Cade Cunningham said, per Patterson. “It’s been a great regular season. Now it’s time for the real fun.”
- The multi-team trade that sent Jaden Ivey to the Bulls produced additional dividends for the franchise, Christian Romo of the Detroit Free Press notes. Not only did they acquire another key reserve in Kevin Huerter, they also wound up with a higher first-round pick this season. Detroit also received a pick swap from the Timberwolves that was protected 1-19. They’ll now have the No. 21 pick while Minnesota moves down to the No. 28 slot.
- Big man Tolu Smith received a promotion last week, getting his two-way deal converted to a standard contract. Bickerstaff told Coty Davis of the Detroit News that Smith earned his way onto the 15-man roster. “He’s competed at a high level when given an opportunity, but he’s continued to work and work and work and improve and get better and establish an NBA skillset in a way that he can impact the game,” Bickerstaff said. “There have been stretches this year where we’ve had him on the floor, whether it’s here or Motor City, where he’s just been dominant. His ability to rebound the basketball, protect the paint, and finish around the rim. He just adds a different dynamic. He can move his feet; he’s physical. He fits right in with the identity of this team and the rest of our big guys.”
Sixers Notes: Play-In, Embiid, Nurse, Maxey
As the No. 7 seed, the Sixers are assured of two opportunities to advance through the play-in tournament, but they don’t want to take any chances entering Wednesday’s game with Orlando, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Philadelphia got an unexpected opportunity to host its first game when the Magic lost Sunday night at Boston, and players are determined to take advantage of their good fortune.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to lock in a playoff seed here on our floor,” Paul George said. “It don’t get no better than that in this situation. So we should look at it as ‘win or go home.’ We shouldn’t be looking at a Plan B or an Option B. … It’s the mentality we need to have now. Wednesday is too late. We need to have that mentality now.”
The Sixers and Magic both finished at 45-37, but Philadelphia claimed the tiebreaker by winning two of their three meetings during the season. Both teams battled injuries that may have kept them from finishing in the top six, and coach Nick Nurse said Sunday that he’s proud of how his players held together after collapsing under similar circumstances last year.
“We’ve got a lot of ceiling to go yet,” Nurse said. “… So hopefully, we get to play a bunch of games and keep improving.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- The Sixers know they’ll have to get through at least the play-in stage without Joel Embiid, who remains without a timetable to return after undergoing an emergency appendectomy last week, Mizell adds. Adem Bona started at center in Sunday’s win over Milwaukee, but Andre Drummond replaced him in the starting lineup for the beginning of the second half. “That’s the one thing that we can kind of check off,” Drummond said, “that we know that (Embiid) won’t be available for a little bit. So now we have to focus on what we can do and who we do have in this locker room, and focus around that.”
- Nurse talked about the matchup with the Magic following Sunday’s game, per Dereck Bodner of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). “Physical team. Big wings and aggressive guards,” Nurse said. “(Jalen) Suggs and (Desmond) Bane are two competitive, physical guys back there. … They’ve been one of many teams in the league that hasn’t been very healthy this year, so it’s gonna be a tough game.”
- This will be this first time in Tyrese Maxey‘s career that he’s entered the postseason as the team’s primary scoring option, Adam Aaronson of Philly Voice observes in an overview of the roster. Maxey’s challenge is being made more difficult by a finger injury on his right hand that limits his movement and is forcing him to wear a splint.
Numerous Teams Considering Coaching Changes
The NBA’s coaching carousel has already started spinning with Doc Rivers‘ decision to step down from the Bucks, and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype suggests it could be an active offseason throughout the league.
Milwaukee has a potential replacement on hand in lead assistant Darvin Ham, but sources tell Scotto the Pelicans could also have interest in Ham if they decide not to retain interim head coach James Borrego. Former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins may be the top name on the market and is expected to draw interest from the Bucks, Scotto adds. Jenkins previously served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee.
Scotto states that Borrego could also emerge as a candidate for the Bucks if New Orleans decides to move on, noting that interviewed with the organization before it hired Adrian Griffin in 2023.
Scotto shares more coaching and front office rumors from around the NBA:
- The Bulls are hoping to hold onto coach Billy Donovan after upending their front office last week. Scotto believes Donovan may have some interest in taking over the Magic if they decide to fire Jamahl Mosley, pointing out that Orlando hired Donovan in 2007 before he changed his mind a few days later and decided to remain at Florida. Scotto cites Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd as a potential front office addition in Chicago, noting that Lloyd began his career with the Bulls. He also points to CAA’s Austin Brown as a possibility if the organization wants to make a run at one of the top agents in the business.
- Jenkins and Tom Thibodeau could also be options for the Magic if they make a coaching move, according to Scotto. Borrego, a former assistant in Orlando, may emerge as another possibility. Sources tell Scotto that Michael Malone had been considered throughout the league as a potential candidate for the Magic before he accepted a job with North Carolina.
- The Pelicans will consider keeping Borrego, but sources tell Scotto that Ham and Kevin Ollie will also be in the mix, while Mosley has “several admirers” in New Orleans and could be among the leading candidates for the position if he becomes available. Scotto also points out that Ham worked with Pelicans executive vice president of basketball 0perations Joe Dumars for two years in Detroit, while Ollie interviewed for the head coaching job when New Orleans general manager Troy Weaver was running the Pistons.
- Steve Kerr and the Warriors will discuss their future this summer, Scotto hears. Stephen Curry remains a huge advocate for Kerr and wants them to finish their careers together, but Kerr is the league’s highest-paid coach and there are concerns about burn-out after a difficult season.
- Interim head coach Tiago Splitter will be a candidate to remain with the Trail Blazers after leading the team to the eighth seed in the West, but several top assistant coaches throughout the league and some college coaches will also be considered, sources tell Scotto.
- Wizards coach Brian Keefe still has strong support from his front office, but Scotto’s sources say his future is “undecided” as the organization hopes to transform into a playoff contender next season.
- The Hawks‘ late-season surge could result in an extension for coach Quin Snyder, according to Scotto.
Checking In On NBA’s 2026 Lottery Standings, Projected Draft Order
The 2025/26 NBA regular season is officially over, but the draft order for this June has not yet been set.
A handful of factors, including the play-in results, random tiebreakers, and - of course - the lottery results themselves will ultimately determine what the 60 picks in the 2026 NBA draft look like. But with the season in the books, there's plenty we do know.
Let's dive in and check in on several key aspects of the lottery standings and projected draft order...
Mavericks Notes: Thompson, Flagg, Nembhard, Offseason
The Mavericks wrapped up their second straight non-playoff season Sunday night, and Klay Thompson‘s time with the organization may be nearing an end, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News writes in a subscriber-only piece. Thompson has one season remaining at nearly $17.5MM on the three-year contract he signed when he decided to leave Golden State in the summer of 2024, but he’s no longer an obvious fit on a rebuilding team.
The Mavs were coming off an NBA Finals appearance when Thompson made the decision, and he was looking forward to continuing that success by teaming up with Luka Doncic. The shocking Doncic trade last season and the subsequent emergence of rookie Cooper Flagg as the franchise centerpiece may result in the 36-year-old Thompson being traded to a contending team this summer.
“I’m not sure,” Thompson responded Sunday when asked if he expects to still be with the Mavericks next season. “I’m under contract so I do, but I’ve definitely learned in my time in Dallas that things can change on a dime.”
Curtis notes that Thompson remained productive this season, averaging 11.7 PPG in 69 games, mostly in a reserve role, while shooting 38.3% from three-point range. He hit four-three pointers in Sunday’s win over Chicago, giving him more than 200 in a season for the 11th time in his career.
Thompson’s future won’t be decided until Dallas hires its next general manager, but he’s happy to still be playing no matter where he winds up.
“I have been very grateful to be here and to make it through the season healthy,” Thompson said. “I know my years are numbered going forward so every night in an NBA jersey, I take full advantage of it.”
There’s more from Dallas:
- Flagg’s remarkable rookie season ended early on Sunday when he was forced out of the game with an ankle injury late in the first quarter, Curtis adds in a separate story. Flagg scored 10 points in 10 minutes before departing and averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the year. He’s expected to finish first or second in a tight Rookie of the Year race with Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and he’s done it at a high level with a smile,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He enjoys the game. He wants to win. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great player to coach. … We’re seeing a historic rookie season. It’s fan appreciation night. We have the best fans, but we also have one of the best players in the world present at the age of 19 and the future.”
- Rookie point guard Ryan Nembhard, who had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal last month, also looks like part of the future in Dallas. He closed out the season with 23 assists on Sunday, becoming the first rookie since 2010 to have at least 19 in a game, according to the Mavericks (Twitter link). The Mavs hold a $2.2MM team option on Nembhard for next season.
- Dallas gained a lot of financial flexibility by trading Anthony Davis to Washington in February, Bobby Marks of ESPN states in his offseason wrapup. The Mavericks won’t have cap space this summer, but by escaping the apron they’ll be able to use the non-taxpayer midlevel exception and the biannual exception. They’re currently about $38MM away from the luxury tax and $45MM below the first apron. Marks points to Dereck Lively II, Max Christie and Naji Marshall as extension candidates for the summer.
Doc Rivers Will Not Return As Bucks’ Coach
APRIL 13: The move is official, the Bucks announced Monday morning (Twitter link). “I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee,” Rivers said in a statement from the team. “Coming back to where I got my start, to a city that has always embraced me, has been a privilege. I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for this experience, the relationships built and unwavering support from our fans and the community. Milwaukee will always mean a lot to me, and this chapter will hold a special place in my heart.”
APRIL 12: Doc Rivers will not be the Bucks‘ head coach next season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link), who reports that Rivers is departing his role.
Echoing prior reporting, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype says the expectation around the league is that Rivers could join the Bucks’ front office in a role that has yet to be determined.
Following a three-year stint in Philadelphia from 2020-23, Rivers was hired by the Bucks during the 2023/24 season to replace Adrian Griffin. He compiled a 97-103 record (.487) across two-and-a-half seasons in Milwaukee, leading the team to two playoff appearances. The club went 3-8 in the postseason under Rivers and didn’t get out of the first round.
While ill-timed injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard played a role in the Bucks’ lack of playoff success in 2024 and 2025, the team was never close to making the postseason this year. Milwaukee finished the season with a 32-50 record, its worst mark since the 2013/14 season.
A longtime coach who won a title in Boston and had a winning record on the sidelines for the Magic, Clippers, and Sixers, Rivers compiled a 2,059-1,195 regular season mark (.580) over the course of 27 seasons as an NBA head coach. He will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame later this year as a member of the class of 2026.
As Charania notes (via Twitter), Rivers had one more year remaining on his contract, so Milwaukee will be on the hook for his 2026/27 salary. The Bucks will now embark upon a search for his replacement, with former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins expected to be a prominent target.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Doesn’t Rule Out Extension With Bucks
With the Bucks‘ season officially over, the focus can fully turn toward Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Big changes appear to be on the horizon in Milwaukee, starting with Doc Rivers’ revelation Sunday night that he won’t be returning as head coach. An Antetokounmpo trade is also expected at some point during the offseason, but nothing is set in stone.
Antetokounmpo will become eligible on October 1 to sign a four-year, maximum-salary extension, which provides a powerful financial incentive to extend his time with the Bucks. He will earn $58.5MM next season and holds a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28, enabling him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, so the odds of a trade will increase dramatically if he informs the organization that he won’t accept an extension.
Antetokounmpo didn’t provide much clarity about his future in a session with reporters Sunday night.
“That’s a very good question,” he replied when asked if he has already played his last game in a Milwaukee uniform. “I don’t know. It’s not up to me. We’ll see.”
Antetokounmpo has been open about his desire to win another championship and didn’t hide his frustration with the Bucks’ 32-50 campaign, Bontemps adds. He stated that the team is as far away from title contention as it’s been at any point in his 13-year career and addressed communication issues that have clouded the season.
“I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen,” he said. “They listen to the sources. The main source is me. It is what it is. So again, do not disturb on my phone, go about my day, improve, and come back better.”
Antetokounmpo has been in a public dispute with the team over whether he was healthy enough to return from a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise that he suffered on March 15. The NBA launched an investigation of the disagreement, as Antetokounmpo insisted that he wanted to play again, while the Bucks contend he never fully healed and wasn’t being totally sincere in his public statements.
Antetokounmpo told reporters on Sunday that he had “zero control” over the situation, but emphasized that he did everything the team asked him to, including participating in three-on-three scrimmages “multiple times.”
“I don’t know who said that, who came up with that, but that’s disrespectful towards what I’ve done for this team and the way I carry myself my whole career, pretty much,” he said. “But I did what I was supposed to do. I wasn’t able to come on the court now. Who has that say? It probably comes from my boss, probably comes from the members of the front office or the owners. So, I thought I had control, kind of like, ‘OK, if I’m healthy, I’m going to play.’ But this shows me that not just me, just players in general, don’t have no control. We got to do what we’ve been told. So, to answer your question, no. I didn’t feel like I had control.”
In an interview last month, team co-owner Wes Edens indicated that Antetokounmpo will either be extended or traded during the offseason. On Sunday, Antetokounmpo didn’t dismiss the idea of accepting the extension, pointing out that the decision is months away and saying he’ll “try to make the best decision for me and my family.” But he also stressed that the team is very far away from where he expected it to be.
“I didn’t think we’re going to be in this position last year, so I don’t know what position we’re going to be next year,” he added. “So, if everything goes well, hopefully, the Bucks want me here, why not? But if they don’t? OK.”
NBA’s Play-In Field, Top-Six Playoff Seeds Set
The NBA wrapped up its 2025/26 regular season on Sunday, locking in the top six teams in each conference and lining up the teams and seeds for this year’s play-in tournament.
While most of the top seeds had already been secured ahead of Sunday’s regular season finale, there were still some meaningful outcomes in today’s games. Most notably, the Raptors’ win over Brooklyn secured their first playoff berth in four years and moved them up to No. 5 in the Eastern Conference standings while ensuring that the Sixers and Magic will have to book their playoff tickets via the play-in tournament.
Over in the West, the Trail Blazers’ victory over Sacramento locked up the No. 8 seed for Portland. That means the Blazers will get two opportunities to win a play-in game and make the playoffs, while the Clippers, bumped down to No. 9, will have to win a pair of play-in contests to advance to the first round.
Here are the play-in matchups:
Eastern Conference
Tuesday, April 14
- Game 1: Miami Heat (10) at Charlotte Hornets (9), 7:30 pm ET
- Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.
Wednesday, April 15
- Game 2: Orlando Magic (8) at Philadelphia 76ers (7), 7:30 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
Friday, April 17
- Winner of Game 1 at Loser of Game 2, 7:30 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.
Western Conference
Tuesday, April 14
- Game 1: Portland Trail Blazers (8) at Phoenix Suns (7), 10:00 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
Wednesday, April 15
- Game 2: Golden State Warriors (10) at Los Angeles Clippers (9), 10:00 pm ET
- Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.
Friday, April 17
- Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, 10:00 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.
Once the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference are set later this week, the eight first-round matchups will be finalized. Those first-round series will tip off on April 18 and 19.
Here are the top six seeds in each conference, along with the matchups that are set so far (and Game 1 info, per the NBA):
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
- Boston Celtics (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) ^
- New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6) *
- Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5) *
* Series begins on April 18.
^ Series begins on April 19.
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
- San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) ^
- Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6) *
- Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5) *
* Series begins on April 18.
^ Series begins on April 19.
Southeast Notes: Jaquez, Herro, Carrington, Cain
The Heat entered the season hoping for a bounce-back performance following last season’s 10th-place finish in the East, but it has been a disappointing year in Miami, where the Heat once again find themselves entering the postseason as the No. 10 seed in the East.
While the team might not have achieved its regular season goals, it was a successful season from an individual perspective for third-year forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is one of the frontrunners for the Sixth Man of the Year award, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
After averaging career-highs in points (15.2), rebounds (5.1), and assists (4.7) per game, Jaquez has the second-best odds to win the award according to BetOnline, Chiang notes, behind only Keldon Johnson of the Spurs.
“I think, obviously, I didn’t want to have the year I had last year. But life happens,” Jaquez said. “The only thing you can do is get back up. I heard a great quote, ‘Failure isn’t falling down, failure is staying down.’ And I think just being able to come back and improve on my game, it would just be a great recognition of the hard work.”
We have more from around the Southeast Division:
- Tyler Herro isn’t shying away from the disappointment of the Heat‘s 2025/26 regular season, but he’s ready to put it behind him and move forward, Chiang writes. “It’s been a long, weird, awkward season,” he said. “Different injuries, in and out. I started the season out, obviously, for kind of like an indefinite time, not really knowing when I was coming back. So it’s just like taking it one step at a time, one day at a time and one game at a time.” One goal is clear for the shooting guard. “I need to get out of the play-in,” he said.
- By suiting up in the Wizards‘ loss to the Cavaliers today, Bub Carrington became the first player since Karl-Anthony Towns to play in 164 straight games over his first two NBA seasons. Towns achieved the feat of not missing a game through the first two years from 2015-2017, and added a third straight year in 2017/18. Carrington played 38 minutes in the last game of the season, scoring 20 points and adding nine assists for Washington on Sunday.
- While the Magic‘s regular season ended in disappointment following a loss to the Celtics’ reserves, fourth-year player Jamal Cain has plenty to be happy about with his performance this year, Jason Beede writes for the Orlando Sentinel. Cain carved out a role for himself and earned his place in the rotation, as Beede details. “All the work that me and my trainer put in is actually coming to fruition,” Cain said. “Also, my teammates believe in me and give me confidence.” Cain’s deal includes a team option for the 2026/27 season.
Central Notes: Rivers, Buzelis, Donovan, Furphy
With Doc Rivers not returning next season as head coach of the Bucks, the team will face some significant questions beyond the status of star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While there has been speculation that Rivers could move into a front office position with the team, it appears that the idea of taking a step away from the NBA for a while could be attractive to the 64-year-old Hall of Famer, according to Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic. Rivers alluded to that possibility after Sunday’s regular season finale when he was asked about his future.
“I can tell you we’re all on the same page,” Rivers said. “We’ve talked about it, and we want it out pretty quick. I just want them to do it, it’s better. But I think you guys pretty much know.”
Rivers is disappointed with how his tenure with the Bucks played out, but said he enjoyed the challenges presented by the team in its various forms during his time in Milwaukee.
“We could have had better health. We could have had all kinds of things,” he said. “I’m not a big guy at looking back. All you can do is look forward. We did a lot of things to improve a lot of the young guys. Unfortunately, that was the road that kind of presented itself for us, and we did that.”
We have more from around the Central Division:
- Matas Buzelis, who missed the Bulls‘ season finale with an ankle injury, is already looking ahead to his offseason work and proving the team that he’s a foundational piece worth building around, Joe Cowley writes for the Chicago Sun-Times. “I know this summer I am going to work my butt off,” Buzelis said. “The whole summer, it’s going to be a hard summer for me. Getting my body stronger and sharpening pretty much everything. But mainly the body part, the shot, the handle, just everything. The main thing will be [adding] the strength.”
- Head coach Billy Donovan wants to sit down with the Bulls to discuss what he considers to be a pivot point in the franchise’s trajectory, Christian Clark writes for The Athletic. “[Team president Michael Reinsdorf] said he wants to build something that’s sustainable,” Donovan said. “I agree with that. It needs to be something that’s going to be long-term.” Donovan has his young star forward’s support. “I want him to stay,” Buzelis said of his coach. “I’m riding with him forever.”
- Second-year Pacers forward Johnny Furphy is now nearly seven weeks removed from ACL surgery and has hit some important milestones recently, according to Scott Agness of the Fieldhouse Files (Twitter link). “Just got off crutches. That was a big milestone for me,” he said. “I’m moving around a lot more now without crutches. So it’s been a big week for me.”