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Brian Windhorst
ESPN Senior Writer
- ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010
- Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years
- Author of two books

Jun 12, 2026, 07:06 AM ET

Wednesday night's memorable Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs could make it harder to recall that the remainder of the league's activities move forward without pause.

Yet as the basketball community anticipates whether the Knicks can conclude their 53-year title drought on Saturday in Game 5 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) the league schedule presses onward toward the draft and free agency period.

Following discussions with league insiders during recent days here is a brief overview of the championship round status along with additional matters circulating in the league now:

Jump to a section:
What's next in these wild Finals?
Latest on the Giannis-Bucks saga
NBA coaching carousel updates
How soon could Silver fix flopping?

What lies ahead in Game 5 of the NBA Finals?

With four thrilling conclusions across this series - each showing San Antonio's advantage disappearing in the closing two minutes - these Finals have performed strongly throughout. "Every single night there has been something that made you think 'Did you just see that?'" an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN.

Yet following the severe setback the Spurs endured by losing a Finals-record 29-point lead the clear question involves how this young squad reacts in a must-win Game 5 at home.

"This represents a genuine test of the Spurs' determination" a Western Conference scout said. "They have displayed resilience and possess considerable emotional maturity as they have shown they can recover. But was that contest the breaking point?"

When consulting league insiders after Game 4 emphasis fell on Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper and his potential for increased participation in the series ahead especially after late-game challenges for De'Aaron Fox.

As during the regular season Harper has come off the bench throughout the Finals averaging 16.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in the series so far including 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting in 32 minutes in Game 4. Yet Harper stayed largely uninvolved late as Fox controlled the ball. That prompted multiple observers from other teams to recommend greater Harper involvement in San Antonio's approach going forward with one West executive suggesting the Spurs move Harper into the starting lineup for just the seventh time in his career.

"He is their second-best player" the executive said. "It is remarkable how skilled he has become so fast."

And while several sources indicated they expect the Spurs to capture Game 5 and return the series to the excitement of Madison Square Garden for Game 6 another factor to watch involves Victor Wembanyama's stamina levels. After logging 44 minutes in Game 4 and appearing more fatigued as the contest progressed the two days between games ahead could give him sufficient recovery time to help San Antonio regain momentum in the series.

Latest on Giannis and the Bucks

With under two weeks until the NBA draft the largest non-Finals topic in the league involves the continuing uncertainty around the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation. This marks not the league's initial experience with this issue in recent seasons as the Bucks have ultimately chosen to retain their superstar forward each time trade talks arose.

This instance appears distinct. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam has clearly stated that either Antetokounmpo will be traded by the draft or the franchise will continue building around him which would demand an alternate set of actions.

Yet across conversations with sources during the Finals it seems Milwaukee holds fresh motivation to secure a deal. And the rest of the league awaits the outcome.

"It appears everyone else's plans are paused until we learn what occurs with Giannis" an East scout said.

Still no assurance exists that a trade will occur. Moving a superstar such as Antetokounmpo on a costly contract presents difficulties in the NBA's apron era under typical conditions and the Bucks - carrying dead money through the end of the decade with minimal draft assets - face unusual circumstances.

All of this could indicate a player-focused package might appeal more to Milwaukee. And that precedes considering the draft lottery rules having changed substantially and possibly shifting again in three years.

Still two matters stay unclear: precisely what Milwaukee seeks in a deal and whether Antetokounmpo will influence the process by declaring his preferred destination and stating he will extend only there. The Miami Heat who sources indicate maintain interest in Antetokounmpo would likely gain from that outcome.

Yet over recent years Antetokounmpo has declined to publicly state he seeks a trade let alone name favored locations. It seems improbable that will shift in this latest and perhaps concluding stage.

The Heat possess an intriguing group of players and picks to propose including 2025 All-Star and Wisconsin native Tyler Herro along with young players such as Kel'el Ware Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis.

Yet if teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers or Orlando Magic fully enter the bidding they could likely surpass a potential Miami offer if players like the Cavs' Evan Mobley or Magic's Paolo Banchero feature.

NBA coaching carousel continues to spin

Three teams - the Chicago Bulls Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks - still lack head coaches.

Chicago which last month added former Atlanta Hawks executive Bryson Graham as its new head of basketball operations seems nearest to a decision having spoken with Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter Hawks assistant coach Ryan Schmidt and current Bulls assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr.

With the Bulls holding the No. 4 and No. 15 selections in this year's draft the expectation is that the new coach will focus on developing those rookies sophomore forward Matas Buzelis and incumbent starting point guard Josh Giddey who enters the second season of a four-year $100 million contract.

Portland's search meanwhile is expected to stay paused for at least the next several days. New owner Tom Dundon who has already created attention since completing the purchase at the end of the regular season focuses on the Carolina Hurricanes' chase for the 2026 Stanley Cup. The direction the Blazers take in their coaching search - and the compensation the franchise will offer - remains uncertain.

Following Dallas parting ways with Jason Kidd reports have connected Duke's Jon Scheyer and Michigan's Dusty May to the opening. Yet since Masai Ujiri was added to lead basketball operations last month the view around the league is that the most probable result for Dallas involves promoting one of the NBA's emerging assistants.

That matches what Ujiri did the prior two times he selected a coach both with the Toronto Raptors: In 2018 he replaced Dwane Casey with Nick Nurse. In 2023 he replaced Nurse with Darko Rajakovic.

The league's next task? A fix for flopping

Extensive discussion has occurred regarding officiating during these playoffs especially across each of the past two rounds involving the San Antonio Spurs: their conference finals win over the Oklahoma City Thunder and now the NBA Finals against the Knicks.

And during an appearance on ABC before Game 3 on Monday night NBA commissioner Adam Silver contributed to the conversation stating the league's competition committee has added flopping to the agenda for its meeting during next month's summer league in Las Vegas.

Officials issued four flopping technicals across the entire regular season and none during the playoffs.

"When we introduced the flopping rule there was blatant flopping" Silver said. "Players learn to sell the calls when a foul occurs but they attempt to draw the call. ... We will review over 1,000 plays over two days and determine if we should adjust that line."

Players on the competition committee - the group also includes coaches and executives from across the league - have previously noted that falling after contact which can sometimes appear as flopping matters for injury prevention. (Former MVP Joel Embiid has used the approach for years.)

Yet efforts to convince referees to make calls or to push for a flagrant foul have increased sharply. None of this benefits from social media where fans on every side vie for the most aggrieved team title. All of that contributes to Silver and the NBA's choice to tackle flopping. And based on the league's speed in applying new anti-tanking steps a resolution could arrive sooner than fans expect.