Minnesota Timberwolves primary governor Glen Taylor plans to meet with president of basketball operations Tim Connelly to discuss Connelly's future with the team. Connelly can opt out of his contract in the coming days. The Wolves ownership battle could be a factor in Connelly's decision to stay or to pursue other opportunities.

The Detroit Pistons were rumored to be interested in hiring Connelly to run their front office, but have since hired Trajan Langdon. That came as a relief to Minnesota, as it removed a primary contender, should Connelly opt out of his deal.

Taylor remains in full control, as he still owns the majority stake of the Timberwolves. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez contend that Taylor acted in bad faith, by backing out of an agreement to sell the team to them. That fight doesn't seem close to a resolution any time soon.

The Cleveland Cavaliers do not appear motivated to listen to trade inquiries at this point for any member of their core four of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

There has been an expectation that the Cavaliers could trade either Mitchell or Garland this offseason. If Mitchell declines Cleveland's extension offer, he becomes an instant trade candidate. If Mitchell signs the extension, there are reports that Garland's representation at Klutch Sports could work to facilitate a trade.

Allen is also a trade candidate as the big man tandem with Mobley hasn't produced the type of results they were expecting due to spacing issues.

Allen has two seasons and $40 million remaining on his contract and figures to have multiple trade suitors interested in him if he becomes available. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves project to have one of the NBA's most expensive teams next season. The Wolves have nearly $191 million in guaranteed salary on their books for nine players. That figure is already over the projected second apron of $189.5 million, before the team finishes filling out the roster.

That sort of spending is unprecedented in Minnesota's history. However, as the team's ownership battle plays out, both sets of owners indicate they'll pay to keep the team together.

Glen Taylor, who retains majority ownership of the Wolves, and Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez have each given the impression that they won't break the team up because of the tax. The challenge is that the second apron makes building out the rest of the roster a major challenge. That could eventually force the team's hand in making some changes to alleviate the high payroll.

ESPN has moved Zaccharie Risacher to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 1 pick in their latest mock draft.

Every team drafting in the top-5 has interest in Risacher, who is not expected to fall out of the top-2.

During the playoffs, Risacher averaged 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 67% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers.

The direction of the Hawks remains unclear as Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are trade candidates and while they will definitively retool their roster, it remains to be seen if their ownership will embrace a rebuild. A further complication of any desire to rebuild stems from their decision to trade away control of their next three drafts to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Murray deal in 2022.

The Brooklyn Nets have named Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard, Deividas Dulkys, Connor Griffin and Travis Bader as assistant coaches on Jordi Fernandez’s staff. They join Jay Hernandez, Adam Caporn, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Corey Vinson on Brooklyn’s bench.

Hetzel comes to Brooklyn from Portland, where he was an assistant coach on the Trail Blazers’ staff for the past three seasons (2021-24). He previously served as an assistant coach for three seasons (2018-21) with the Orlando Magic following a four-year stint (2014-18) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets. Hetzel was also the head coach of the Canton Charge in the NBA G League for one season (2013-14) while Fernandez served as his lead assistant coach. 

Howard joins the Nets’ staff after serving as the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, for the past five seasons (2019-24). While at the helm in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines compiled an 87-72 record, which included trips to the Sweet 16 (2022) and Elite Eight (2021) in the NCAA Tournament and a regular season Big Ten Conference championship. At the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Howard earned National Coach of the Year honors. Before his stint leading Michigan, Howard spent six seasons (2013-19) as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat. 

Dulkys joins Brooklyn’s bench after spending the last two seasons (2022-24) as an assistant and player development coach for the Sacramento Kings. 

Griffin arrives in Brooklyn after three seasons (2021-24) with the Denver Nuggets. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as head video coordinator/player development while assisting a postseason run in 2023 that resulted in the Nuggets’ first NBA championship. Griffin originally joined Denver ahead of the 2021-22 season as an assistant video coordinator. 

Bader begins his fifth season as part of the Nets organization and his first as an assistant coach. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as the team’s head video coordinator following a two-year stint (2020-22) as a video seasonal assistant. 

The Sacramento Kings offered Mike Brown a three-year contract extension worth $21 million, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The deal could increase to $27 million with bonuses.

Brown is believed to be seeking around $10 million per season.

Luka Doncic gives new meaning to the term “coming out aggressive” and sends the Wolves into the Minnesota night. We revisit how he and the Mavs were able to rebuild their team and make their 3rd NBA Finals appearance.

We then start our draft scouting with wing prospect Zaccharie Risacher of France, who is in contention to be the number one overall pick.

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Luka Doncic was named the Magic Johnson Western Conference finals MVP after the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in the series.

“It’s a good feeling, man, I cannot lie,” said Doncic upon receiving the award.

Doncic, who got all nine media votes, averaged 32.4 points in the series.

Doncic entered Thursday averaging 31 points per game in the playoffs, second only to Michael Jordan.

Game 1 between the Mavs and Celtics begins on June 6.

The Los Angeles Lakers would prefer to avoid trading Austin Reaves this offseason, sources tell The Athletic. 

The Lakers previously refrained from including Reaves in trade talks in 2023 for Kyrie Irving and again in 2024 for Dejounte Murray.

Reaves is entering Year 2 of a four-year, $56 million contract signed with the Lakers last offseason. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as the team rival executives believe could be the most likely team to sign Isaiah Hartenstein away from the New York Knicks.

Hartenstein doesn't have the type of ability off the dribble and perimeter shooting that the Thunder have valued, but he is good as a dribble-handoff screener and as a passer. Hartenstein can play alongside other bigs and he also would help the Thunder tremendously as a rebounder.

Hartenstein nearly signed with the Orlando Magic before joining the Knicks, but that no longer is an obvious fit despite their cap space.

The Detroit Pistons have also been previously linked to Hartenstein.