The 2025-26 regular season has ended and the playoffs are underway, but attention is already shifting to June’s draft and the 2026 offseason, according to ESPN. Teams eliminated from contention are focused on the draft lottery set for May 10, and the 2026 class is widely regarded as deep and talented, a perception the report says has contributed to unusually overt tanking this season.
Veteran Draymond Green told ESPN’s Marc Spears that he wants to stay with the Golden State Warriors if the team is willing, and he reiterated on Inside the NBA that he does not picture himself in another uniform if the Warriors feel the same. The report notes Green holds a $27.6 million player option for next season, the final year of his current contract. On head coaching, Green said he hopes Steve Kerr returns and that Kerr wants to continue coaching; the report adds Kerr is on an expiring contract and just completed his 12th season.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon addressed the Dallas Mavericks’ front office changes on the Hoop Collective podcast, saying that Jason Kidd attempted to become team president but had known for months that would not occur. MacMahon characterized Masai Ujiri as the clear decision-maker, saying Ujiri is the leading figure in basketball operations with the Mavericks, per the report.
Injury updates cited by ESPN include Joel Embiid being ruled out for Game 2 at the New York Knicks, per Shams Charania. The report notes Embiid had 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting and four rebounds in Philadelphia’s 137-98 Game 1 loss and is dealing with both hip and ankle injuries. In a separate appearance, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said Luka Doncic is not ruled out in the Lakers’ series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, has started running but has not done contact drills, and would be roughly six weeks removed from his injury by Game 4; McMenamin added Doncic’s body language seemed down and that the timeline is uncertain.
Front-office and coaching moves reported by ESPN include the Chicago Bulls hiring Bryson Graham as executive vice president of basketball operations, with Graham noted to have spent 15 seasons in New Orleans before joining the Atlanta Hawks last year. The Detroit Pistons have given coach JB Bickerstaff a contract extension, per Shams Charania. ESPN podcasts and coverage continue to analyze series developments, including Cleveland’s response after a Game 1 loss to Detroit and the New York-Philadelphia matchup, the report says.
