"Absolutely not," Pitino said during a broadcast of Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians, per CBS Sports.

"I think whoever comes in, if he doesn't get to the Finals, it's going to be deemed an unsuccessful season," he continued. "So, whoever comes in has got so much pressure on them to take this team to the next level cause that's why they're doing it, obviously, in their minds."

The Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday despite reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

The Knicks haven't reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and have not won a championship since 1973.

Pitino, 72, compiled a 90-74 record with two playoff appearances in two seasons as the head coach for New York from 1987-89.

The Hall of Famer completed his second season as the head coach at St. John's in 2024-25, winning national and Big East Coach of the Year honors after finishing 31-5.

Thibodeau compiled a 226-174 (.565) record in five seasons with the Knicks, including a 51-31 finish this season. He was 24-23 in the playoffs with New York.

Yet the satisfaction level never sinks in for the former three-star recruit at Oshkosh North in Wisconsin and the player traded by the Sacramento Kings just 109 games into his career.

"It will never stop. I think that's part of my drive," said Haliburton on Wednesday, one day before the Pacers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. "Obviously, I want to be the best. I want to be great. I want to squeeze every ounce of God-given ability that I have to be the best player I can be.

"But any doubt is always good for me. I love to hear that stuff. I'll continue to tell you guys in certain moments that it doesn't matter what people say. But it matters and I enjoy it."

Haliburton, a two-time All-Star at age 25, has fueled the Pacers' rise while exceeding the expectation of others.

When the elite schools didn't covet Haliburton, he went to Iowa State. He was in the midst of a standout 2019-20 sophomore campaign with the Cyclones when he sustained a season-ending fractured left wrist.

He declared for the 2020 NBA Draft and was selected 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings. During his second season, the Kings decided they needed to choose between De'Aaron Fox or Haliburton as their point guard. Fox was kept and Haliburton was dealt to the Pacers in February 2022.

Even though Sacramento received Domantas Sabonis in the deal, Indiana has gotten the better end of the transaction. In fact, the Kings no longer have Fox either.

Getting traded wasn't easy for Haliburton but he sure is thankful things occurred the way they did. They provided more fuel.

"I think the greats try to find external motivation as much as they can and that's something that's always worked for me," Haliburton said. "I understand what you're saying. It doesn't solidify who I am. I know who I am. I don't need anybody to tell me who I am or who I am as a player or person. I'm grounded in myself. ... But I think that extra doubt, that extra fuel always helps."

Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 73 regular-season games this season. In the playoffs, he is averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds.

Now the small-town kid who attended college in a small place is happy to be on the big stage. But he's miffed to hear Indianapolis mentioned as a small market.

"I just feel like being in Indy, like, it's a great place for me," Haliburton said. "Indy is a much bigger place than I'm even accustomed to. I know people say it's a small market, whatever the case is. Like, I didn't grow up somewhere where it was much bigger, have more to do.

"So, I love being in Indy. Indy has been a great place for me and my family. My whole family lives there now. We love being there. It's a lot of fun for me. I don't need the glitz and glamour of a large city or anything."

Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday when the teams square off in Game 1 in Oklahoma City.

"I haven't really wrapped my head around the fact that I'm in the finals," Thunder third-year star Jalen Williams said. "... It's definitely a blessing that we're here and I try not to get too caught up in it because we still have a job to do."

The teams are tied together through Paul George. The Pacers' and Thunder's trades of George helped chart their path to these finals.

First, in July 2017, Indiana traded George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. In February 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis as part of a package that brought them Tyrese Haliburton -- a cornerstone piece to this run.

Oklahoma City's haul from its own George trade has been even more impactful to its current roster. After two All-Star seasons with the Thunder, George asked to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Oklahoma City acquired not only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's NBA leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, but also the draft pick that was used to select Williams.

Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into the Thunder's biggest offensive weapon -- he's averaging 31.6 points in Oklahoma City's 12 playoff wins -- but also their overall tone-setter.

"Just has an 'I'm-gonna-get-it-done' mentality," Williams said. "I think it's rubbed off on the rest of the team."

While the Thunder have seemingly been destined to reach the finals, going 68-14 in the regular season to win the Western Conference going away, Indiana's path has been much less straightforward.

The Pacers were under .500 as late as early January before turning things around and finishing as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

"We started rocky but we just stayed steady and kept being ourselves and we just kept getting better," Indiana's Pascal Siakam said.

In the playoffs, though, Indiana has been plenty dominant, beating the Bucks in five games, top-seed Cleveland in five games, and the Knicks in six to advance to their first finals since Reggie Miller starred for the franchise.

The Thunder swept the two meetings during the regular season, the most recent a 132-111 victory in Oklahoma City on March 29.

Much like it did during the regular season, the Thunder's defense has set the tone. Oklahoma City's 104.7 defensive rating -- points allowed per 100 possessions -- is tops in the NBA during the playoffs.

The Pacers have shown plenty of offensive firepower, with a 117.7 offensive rating in 16 playoff games -- behind only Cleveland's 122.6 and ahead of Oklahoma City's 115.9..

"There's no shortcuts to beating this team," Haliburton said of the Thunder.

Indiana had an adventurous trip to Oklahoma City. The Pacers' plane had to stop in Tulsa, Okla., due to storms in the Oklahoma City area, though it finally was able to land Tuesday night.

As Daigneault digs into the details, he knows there's a difference between getting a feel for the opponent and the opponent making sure you feel them.

"We aren't inventing anything this week. They pump a 99-mph fastball at you, and you can prepare all you want for that," Daigneault said. "But when you're in the batter's box, it's different when it's time to hit. It's going to be a very tall challenge."

Oklahoma City features two top on-ball defenders who'll share the chore of shadowing Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. He averaged 18.8 points and 9.8 assists in the playoffs to reach the Finals and is the engine of a revving offense capable of attacking from many angles. Lu Dort defended Haliburton in two regular-season matchups, Thunder wins, and limited him to averages of 11 points and 5.5 assists.

While the Thunder feature the NBA's leading scorer and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the mentality of winning with defense and succeeding as a team are more than words to this young roster.

"Staying true to who we are is the reason we are here. We'd be doing ourselves a disservice to change or be something we're not once we got here," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "If we want to keep having success, we have to be who we are. It's organic, so it's nothing we have to think about or force. It's who we are no matter the moment."

Gilgeous-Alexander will get the majority of the attention from the Pacers' defense, but forward Chet Holmgren said Oklahoma City has seen plenty of that approach. The Thunder claim they truly don't care how the points get on the board in Game 1 or beyond, as long as OKC is putting up wins.

"I'd say the biggest thing is playing for each other," Holmgren said. "And the type of guys we have here. If you ask anybody, everybody is going to tell you they are a winner. We have a team with 17 winners. They're going to put winning at the top of the totem pole over anything else, really. Does that mean you are guaranteed to win every single night? No. But when that's the main focus, you aren't working toward anything else, then you are able to chase that (outcome) better than if you had a different perspective on it."

Perspective might be a challenge early in the series.

Daigneault is matching up with Rick Carlisle, who guided the 2011 Dallas Mavericks to the NBA title, with a group of 20-somethings in the Finals for the first time. He reminded his team to walk into the home arena grateful and wasn't afraid to reflect on the magnitude of the moment.

"Every single person that's participating in this," he said, "whether it's coaches, players, staff, there was a time in their life when this was just a dream. That's every player that's participating. There was a time they were in their driveway shooting, 1 on 0, with a basket counting down the end of the game. That's what makes it so special to be part of. We're all very humbled and grateful to be a part of it."

Ott will be hired for the position over his former Cavaliers colleague, associate head coach Johnnie Bryant. Ott and Bryant met with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein and new general manager Brian Gregory in Michigan on Tuesday.

Per ESPN, Suns star Devin Booker was involved in the latter stages of the search process and tabbed Ott as his choice as head coach.

Phoenix is looking for a replacement for Mike Budenholzer, who was fired April 14 after his first season and a 36-46 record. Ott will be the fourth coach in four seasons for the Suns.

Ott began his career as a video coordinator at Michigan State in 2008 before filling that same role under Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks. He joined the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach in 2016 and moved on to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 before Kenny Atkinson hired him in Cleveland.

NBA Coach of the Year Atkinson and his staff led the Cavaliers to 64 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

The finger injury occurred in the second round against the Boston Celtics, and Towns hurt his knee during the Eastern Conference finals, won by the Indiana Pacers in six games. He did not miss any games.

Towns, a five-time All-Star, chose to undergo necessary procedures immediately to better prepare for next season, per the report.

The Knicks acquired Towns as part of three-team trade before the start of the 2024-25 season that sent Julius Randle, Keita Bates-Diop and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Towns, 29, started 72 regular season games, averaging 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists over 35 minutes per game.

The No. 1 pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by Minnesota, he has career averages of 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 645 games.

In 18 playoff games with the Knicks, the 7-footer averaged 21.4 points and 11.6 rebounds.

Towns has two years, plus a player option, remaining on the four-year, $220.4 million deal he signed with the Timberwolves. He is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.

While the Pacers' charter flight was in the air on Tuesday, forecasters issued a tornado warning, flood watch and severe thunderstorm watch for Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.

At least one tornado was spotted in Norman, Oklahoma, roughly 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, but it was not immediately known whether the tornado touched down or caused damage.

Indiana's flight was diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the plane was refueled. The team expected to arrive in Oklahoma City later Tuesday evening.

The Pacers, making the franchise's second-ever appearance in the Finals and first since 2000, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are scheduled to appear at NBA Finals media day on Wednesday at Paycom Center, which will be the stage for Thursday's Game 1.

His 24 playoff wins were the most by a Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy and six more than New York recorded in the 20 years prior to his arrival. And the Knicks' trip to the Eastern Conference finals this spring was the first for the franchise since 2000 and unleashed a joyfully riotous weeks-long party in a city starved for a basketball title.

For all of that, Thibodeau got fired Tuesday before the three-year extension he signed last summer could even begin.

Tough town, tough gig -- especially for Thibodeau's successor, who arrives with championship-or-bust expectations even after the Knicks' lack of depth, athleticism and defensive acumen were exposed by the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.

Here are a few candidates who might be tasked with finally winning the Knicks' first title since 1973:

Michael Malone, ex-Nuggets head coach: Nobody is better prepared for the crucible of New York than Malone. He spent two seasons as a Knicks assistant in the early 2000s and is the son of the late Brendan Malone, who had three different stints as a New York assistant. And no one understands the demands placed upon a head coach like Malone, who was fired by Denver with three games to go in the regular season despite winning a franchise-record 471 games as well as the Nuggets' lone NBA title in 2023.

Johnnie Bryant, Cavaliers assistant coach: Bryant was the associate head coach of the Knicks under Thibodeau for four years before moving to Cleveland in 2024. He's reportedly up for the Phoenix Suns gig, the only other current NBA opening, so Thibodeau's firing might have been a preemptive strike by Knicks management. Bryant would also provide a familiar face for the Knicks, whose lone assistant coach with NBA head coaching experience is Maurice Cheeks -- who hasn't run a team since 2014.

Taylor Jenkins, ex-Grizzlies head coach: Like Malone, Jenkins was a surprise late-season firing despite an impressive track record in Memphis, where he won a franchise-record 250 games. His ability to cultivate young talent could be intriguing as the replacement for the famously vet-friendly Thibodeau.

Mike Brown, ex-Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings head coach: Brown coached LeBron James during the latter's first stint in Cleveland, so he knows all about dealing with strong personalities. He was also an assistant on three NBA champions with the Golden State Warriors before ending Sacramento's 16-year postseason drought in his first season at the helm in 2022-23.

Frank Vogel, ex-Pacers, Magic, Lakers and Suns coach: Like Brown, he has experience with winning in challenging situations. Vogel got the Pacers to consecutive Eastern Conference finals in 2013-14 and led the Lakers to the title in the pandemic bubble before the impatient Suns fired him after one year.

Mike Budenholzer, ex-Hawks, Bucks and Suns head coach: His star dimmed when he was fired following the first season of a five-year deal with the Suns. But he can't be ruled out as part of a bid by the Knicks to land Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, though such a deal is unlikely given the Knicks' lack of first-round picks and tradable players.

Jeff Van Gundy, ex-Knicks and Rockets head coach: A long shot because it's been 18 years since he last served as a head coach. But Van Gundy, still somehow only 63 years old, is one of the few people who could give Thibodeau a run in the gym rat department, as he proved by taking an assistant's job with the Clippers this season following a successful broadcasting career. Plus -- and this cannot be stated enough -- as a former Knicks coach, Van Gundy would know what he's getting into.

In February 2023, he moved D'Angelo Russell for Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker - two key parts of the Timberwolves' eight-man rotation that just reached the Western Conference finals for the second straight year.

Last October, Connelly shipped four-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo - two more key pieces in that eight-man rotation.

So, with the NBA draft and free agency fast approaching, what might Connelly have in store in order to get the Timberwolves to their first NBA title?

"I mean, you're always just guessing," Connelly said. "I mean, I don't know. I mean, until you win it all, you've got to be very self-critical and look for areas where you can improve upon.

"This time of year is especially active because the draft (precedes) free agency, so it's really one of the biggest transactional windows we have. We feel very happy with the core we have. We don't feel like there's a tremendous pressure to do much. But, you know, until you're raising the trophy, you've got to be active and creative as possible to try to get to a point where, at some point, you're the final team."

Presuming Connelly wants to bring back every member of that eight-man rotation that went 27-12 over the final three months of the regular season and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 and the Golden State Warriors 4-1 in the playoffs, he's going to have to do some financial gymnastics.

Minnesota led the NBA in total cap allocations in 2024-25 at $237,156,897. Hypothetically, the Wolves could live well above the cap again, but forwards Julius Randle and Naz Reid are veterans who get to decide whether to accept a contract option for next season or become a free agent. Meanwhile, Alexander-Walker is an unrestricted free agent.

"The goal is to keep everybody," Connelly said.

But if any or all three move on, the Timberwolves have the Nos. 17 and 31 picks in the NBA draft. They also have three youngsters who just completed their first season - wing Terrence Shannon Jr., guard Rob Dillingham and forward Jaylen Clark - who could warrant more minutes next year.

At the same time, the current group lost the Western Conference finals in five games to the Oklahoma City Thunder - an organization loaded with enough younger players and first-round picks that it ought to contend for several more years.

"I think (our) team grew together as it got to know each other, so I don't know if there's a ton of certain skillsets we need," Connelly said. "I think it's more kind of collective maturity - to be able to play different ways and have... you know, every night we're not going to be able to be super-productive. So how do we win those games (that are) kind of in the mud?

"You know, we've got a bunch of guys who have these huge roles that are starting to get a little bit older. So you always want to have people behind them. So I think there's some positions that potentially could be more of (a) need because of how the present roster is set up."

Just three days after losing to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks parted ways with Thibodeau. After five seasons, 226 regular-season victories and four playoff appearances, Thibodeau leaves behind a roster he helped cultivate into a growing threat in the East.

New York may have one of sports' most polarizing owners in Jim Dolan, but the Knicks also have a talented roster in a city primed to attract marquee talent.

That led multiple sportsbooks to quickly generate an odds market on the Knicks' next coach. Leading the pack at SportsBetting.ag is Michael Malone, who was fired by Denver with three games left in the regular season -- less than 24 months after guiding the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA title.

He is followed by former Villanova coach Jay Wright and ex-Knicks coach and television analyst Jeff Van Gundy.

KNICKS NEXT COACH ODDS*

Michael Malone (+100)

Jay Wright (+150)

Jeff Van Gundy (+600)

Chris Quinn (+700)

Taylor Jenkins (+800)

Danny Hurley (+900)

Rick Brunson (+1200)

Mike Brown (+1400)

Mark Jackson (+1600)

Steve Nash (+2200)

James Borrego (+3300)

Johnnie Bryant (+4000)

John Calapari (+4500)

Mike Budenholzer (+5000)

Mike D'Antoni (+5000)

Sam Cassell (+6600)

*SportsBetting.ag odds provided for entertainment purposes only.

Knicks team president Leon Rose said in a statement that the team "decided to move in another direction" as it eyes a championship run next season. The Knicks' odds are improved thanks to the Boston Celtics losing star Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury that will cost him most, if not all, of next season.

Thibodeau posted a 24-23 playoff record with the Knicks and was fired less than a year after signing a three-year extension through 2027 that was worth a reported $10-11 million per season.

Considering the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years, the vacancy is expected to draw interest from a host of high-profile and experienced candidates.

A look at the top half-dozen candidates on the list:

MICHAEL MALONE

In addition to leading the Nuggets to the 2023 title, Malone spent two seasons as a Knicks assistant in the early 2000s. The 53-year-old is no stranger to the limelight of Madison Square Garden and is the son of the late Brendan Malone, who spent three different stints as an assistant with the franchise. After leaving the Knicks, Malone has posted a 510-394 regular-season record in parts of 12 seasons as an NBA coach.

JAY WRIGHT

Wright coached Knicks star Jalen Brunson at Villanova along with teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. A two-time national champion at Villanova, Wright retired in 2022 citing the changing landscape of college basketball. The biggest question may be whether Wright has a desire to return to coaching, much less in a pressure-cooker environment like the Knicks' job. He declined to be considered when the job became available previous times over the past decade.

JEFF VAN GUNDY

It has been 18 years since Van Gundy patrolled the sidelines for an NBA team. Still just 63 years old, Van Gundy did serve as an assistant with the Clippers this season following a long run as a broadcaster. He won 248 games with the Knicks over parts of seven seasons after taking over for the fired Don Nelson late in 1995-96. He also led the franchise to its most recent NBA Finals appearance in 1999.

CHRIS QUINN

A former NBA player, Quinn has spent more than a decade as an assistant with the Miami Heat. He was installed at +700 despite not being near the top of many early lists to replace Thibodeau. However Quinn has been on NBA teams' radars. He met with the Phoenix Suns this year after interviewing with Cleveland last offseason.

TAYLOR JENKINS

Like Malone, Jenkins was a surprising late-season firing when he was let go by Memphis on March 28 after winning a franchise-record 250 games and earning three playoff appearances over parts of six seasons. Jenkins offers a wealth of experience despite being only 40 and has a reputation for cultivating young talent. However, he did post a mere 9-14 playoff record with Memphis.

DANNY HURLEY

Hurley seriously contemplated leaving UConn for the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason. He ultimately returned to Storrs to chase a three-peat that came up short with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss, but maybe he'll be more tempted by an NBA job that would keep him in the Northeast. A Jersey City native, Hurley spent his coaching career before UConn at stops in either New York or New Jersey. Hurley does have a strong roster assembled at UConn ahead of next season, but would the allure of coaching Brunson, Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns be enough to draw him to MSG?

The move announced by team president Leon Rose comes three days after a season-ending Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, the farthest the Knicks had advanced in the postseason in 25 years.

"Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans," Rose said. "This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction.

"We can't thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories. Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward.

"Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future."

Thibodeau, 67, compiled a 226-174 (.565) record in the regular season, including a 51-31 finish this season. He was 24-23 in the playoffs with New York.

In July 2024, Thibodeau signed a three-year extension through 2027-28 that was worth a reported $10 million to $11 million per season.

Thibodeau previously coached the Chicago Bulls (2010-15) and Minnesota Timberwolves (2016-19) and owns a career record of 578-420 (.579) in the regular season and 48-55 (.466) in the playoffs. He was named the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2010-11 and 2020-21.

He is two shy of becoming the 35th head coach in NBA history with 1,000 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, became "supermax" eligible with the Oklahoma City Thunder by earning All-NBA honors in consecutive seasons, and the numbers are something to behold.

SGA could sign a four-year, $293.4 million pact with an average salary of $73.3 million, which equates to almost $900,000 per game in the regular season. He can sign the record-setting agreement as early as July 6.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring at 32.7 points per game in the regular season and has the Thunder in the NBA Finals.

In the unexpected event of Gilgeous-Alexander opting to hold off for one more season, his July 2026 contract would become a five-year, $379 million deal.

The 2025 extension season involves other big names who could be rewarded with guaranteed money despite having multiple seasons left on their current contracts.

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is eligible for a three-year extension worth over $210 million from the Denver Nuggets. He can sign a new contract between July 6 and Oct. 21, but with two seasons and a player option for another remaining on his existing contract, Jokic might not rush into anything.

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers have a hold on a maximum extension of four years, $229 because he was traded. Doncic can't sign a four-year contract until August under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement but can take three years and $160 million next month if he's eager for the guarantee to get done.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young is eligible to sign a $229 million extension for four years in July. The Hawks and Mavericks exchanged the draft rights of Doncic for Young on the night of the 2018 NBA Draft,

Gilgeous-Alexander was chosen 11th in that draft by the Charlotte Hornets after his Kentucky teammate, Kevin Knox, went ninth to the New York Knicks. Gilgeous-Alexander was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers for Miles Bridges, who was picked 12th.

Stunningly traded by the Mavericks during the 2023-24 season, Doncic averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game in 450 games over his first seven seasons.

The top two picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) and Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) represent interesting cases in contract leverage. Neither has consistently been available to his team for multiple reasons, but both have been dominant for stretches and are younger than SGA.

Williamson played 30 games last season, the third time in five years he failed to play in fewer than half of the Pelicans' regular-season games, and also is facing off-court legal issues.

Williamson turns 25 on July 6, the first day he can sign a two-year extension worth up to $128.4 million.

Morant, 25, is eligible for an extension of the same value. Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson, chosen between Doncic (third) and Young (fifth) in 2018, is also extension eligible.

There are also two-year, $150 million extensions available to the Knicks with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Phoenix Suns with Devin Booker.

Expect another round of opinions about the big swap during the preseason when the Mavericks and Lakers meet at Las Vegas on Oct. 15.

The Lakers announced four preseason games on Monday in which they are designated as the home team, and the attention-getter is the matchup vs. Dallas.

The Mavericks landed Anthony Davis in the controversial deal, but Dallas fans were irate over the loss of Doncic.

The Lakers won both meetings between the teams after the trade. Doncic had a triple-double (19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists) as Los Angeles beat visiting Dallas 107-99 on Feb. 25. He then poured in 45 points in his first visit to Dallas as a visiting player on April 9, helping the Lakers prevail 112-97.

Davis missed the Feb. 25 game on Feb. 25 before producing 13 points and 11 rebounds on April 9.

The Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery despite being big longshots, so they could have Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick, in action when they get to Las Vegas. The Lakers, of course, will have a roster led by veteran LeBron James.

The Lakers also announced preseason games against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 3 in Palm Desert, Calif., and home contests against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 12 and the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 17.

The Bucks are the odds-on favorite at -140 by DraftKings to be the team Antetokounmpo is playing for in his first minute of the 2025-26 regular season. That's well ahead of the San Antonio Spurs (+380) and Houston Rockets (+450).

The Rockets crashed out of the playoffs after posting the second-best record in the Western Conference, but have a young and talented roster poised to compete for several years. That roster could use an experienced star in the mold of Antetokounmpo to make a deeper playoff run next season alongside the likes of Amen Thompson, Antetokounmpo, Tari Eason, and Dillon Brooks.

The Spurs also make for an intriguing destination to pair with young star Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, who was acquired from Sacramento last season. San Antonio is still armed with a slew of draft picks to help facilitate a deal.

The next shortest odds belong to the Toronto Raptors, who have moved to +1000 with a report by the Toronto Star that there is "mutual interest" should Antetokounmpo be traded. Separately, ESPN reported that the Raptors are "looking for a big fish" in the offseason trade market.

It was originally reported last month that Antetokounmpo would be open to playing elsewhere in 2025-26.

According to the Star's report on Sunday, the Raptors are deep enough at the wing position to combine with first-round picks to make a run at Antetokounmpo, who has spent his first 12 seasons with Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo, 30, averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 2024-25 before Milwaukee was handed its third straight first-round playoff exit.

With highly paid All-Star guard Damian Lillard facing a lengthy rehabilitation after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the playoffs on April 27, the Bucks are not well-positioned to contend for a championship next season -- which speaks to the offseason decisions that the Bucks and Antetokounmpo face.

He is under contract through the 2026-27 season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. He carries cap hits of $54.1 million in 2025-26 and $58.5 million in 2026-27.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO ODDS

(First Regular Season Minute Played For)

Milwaukee Bucks (-140)

San Antonio Spurs (+380)

Houston Rockets (+450)

Toronto Raptors (+1000)

Dallas Mavericks (+1200)

Oklahoma City Thunder (+1300)

New York Knicks (+1600)

Brooklyn Nets (+2000)

Memphis Grizzlies (+3000)

Detroit Pistons (+3000)

Cleveland Cavaliers (+3000)

Atlanta Hawks (+3000)

Los Angeles Lakers (+3500)

Golden State Warriors (+3500)

Miami Heat (+5000)

Chicago Bulls (+5000)

Boston Celtics (+5000)

Phoenix Suns (+5000)

Orlando Magic (+5000)

New Orleans Pelicans (+5000)

Los Angeles Clippers (+6000)

Philadelphia 76ers (+6000)

Minnesota Timberwolves (+6000)

Sacramento Kings (+7000)

Denver Nuggets (+8000)

Indiana Pacers (+12000)

Portland Trail Blazers (+13000)

Charlotte Hornets (+25000)

Washington Wizards (+25000)

Utah Jazz (+25000)

The finals begin Thursday in Oklahoma City against the Thunder.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Monday on 107.5 The Fan radio in Indianapolis that the injury was one that will take some time.

"He's gonna be out for a while. I don't know how long," Carlisle said. "He certainly will not play in the first two games of the finals."

The injury occurred on Saturday during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals when Walker rolled his right ankle after jumping to try to defend a shot from the New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns.

He left the arena on crutches, and Carlisle said he was still using them on Sunday.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven NBA Finals is scheduled for June 11 in Indianapolis. Carlisle said the schedule could work in Walker's favor.

"The fact that the finals are stretched out over a pretty significant period of time gives him a chance to recover," Carlisle said. "... He'll do all of the treatment. He'll be very motivated (to return). He's been on point any time he's had any kind of dings or anything like that."

Walker, 21 and in his second NBA season, is part of the deep bench Carlisle has used in the playoffs. He has appeared in 12 of their 16 postseason games and is averaging 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds over 9.8 minutes per game.

It was originally reported last month that Antetokounmpo would be open to playing elsewhere in 2025-26.

According to the Star's report on Sunday, the Raptors are deep enough at the wing position to combine with first-round picks to make a run at Antetokounmpo. Separately, ESPN reported that the Raptors are "looking for a big fish" in the offseason trade market.

ESPN reported in May that the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player is exploring whether his best long-term fit is to remain in Milwaukee or move on after 12 seasons, nine All-Star selections and one championship with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo, 30, averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 2024-25 before Milwaukee suffered its third straight first-round playoff exit.

With highly paid All-Star guard Damian Lillard facing a lengthy rehabilitation after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the playoffs on April 27, the Bucks are not well-positioned to contend for a championship next season -- which speaks to the off-season decisions that the Bucks and Antetokounmpo face.

He is under contract through the 2026-27 season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. He carries cap hits of $54.1 million in 2025-26 and $58.5 million in 2026-27.

The finalists, per ESPN, are Cleveland associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and assistant Jordan Ott. Both are set to meet with a Phoenix contingent led by owner Mat Ishbia this week.

The Suns are looking for a replacement for Mike Budenholzer, who was fired April 14 after his first season and a 36-46 record. The new coach will be the fourth in four seasons.

NBA Coach of the Year Kenny Atkinson and his staff led the Cavaliers to 64 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

Bryant, 39, was a guard in college at Utah and played professionally overseas before joining the Utah Jazz staff in 2012, where he remained until 2020. He was the associate head coach of the New York Knicks before joining the Cavaliers.

Ott began his career as a video coordinator at Michigan State in 2008 before filling that same role under Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks. He joined the Nets as an assistant coach in 2016 and moved on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 before Atkinson hired him in Cleveland.

Ainge, 43, worked in the Boston front office for 17 years, most recently as an assistant general manager, and is the son of Jazz CEO and alternate governor Danny Ainge.

"We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Austin Ainge as our new President of Basketball Operations," said Jazz governor Ryan Smith. "Austin is one of the brightest minds in the NBA -- his 17 years with the Celtics have given him incredible insight into every part of an organization. I've known Austin for 15 years, and I've watched him grow into an accomplished, innovative, and strategic basketball executive who's ready to lead this organization."

Justin Zanik will remain in his role as Utah's general manager and will work together with Austin Ainge and head coach Will Hardy moving forward.

"I couldn't be more excited about the bright future of this organization," Austin Ainge said. "I look forward to partnering with Ryan and Ashley Smith and our other leaders within the Utah Jazz and will utilize my experience over the last 17 years building a championship-caliber organization. I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win. I look forward to bringing that to Utah and am excited to give Jazz fans a lot to cheer about as we build our program back up."

In his time with the Celtics, Austin Ainge also worked as director of scouting and player personnel and served as head coach of the NBA G League's Maine Celtics (2009-11). His efforts helped Boston reach the Eastern Conference finals six times and capture the 2024 NBA championship.

"We are thrilled for Austin as he embarks on his new journey with the Jazz," said Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. "He's clearly ready for this next step, and I know how much he's looking forward to leading a team. He's obviously very bright and has experienced success as a player, coach and executive at various levels of the game. On top of that, he leaves no stone unturned -- he's a strategic thinker that's motivated and is an extremely hard worker. We will miss him in Boston, but could not be happier for Austin and his family."

Austin Ainge is already a familiar name for basketball fans in Utah. As a two-time team captain at BYU, he appeared in 101 games from 2003-07 and helped the Cougars win two Mountain West Conference titles and make three trips to the NCAA Tournament.

The Jazz finished with an NBA-worst and franchise-worst 17-65 record in 2024-25, missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Walker was on crutches after the game. The ankle badly turned while he was defending Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks during the opening possession of the fourth quarter.

"He's young, so that's good," Carlisle said after his team's series-clinching 125-108 victory. "I did not see a replay, so I don't know how much, how far it turned over, how much weight he had on it. But when a guy goes down and stays down like that, you're always holding your breath."

Indiana faces the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Walker had two points and one rebound in seven minutes before exiting. He remained on the floor as play continued until it was stopped after New York scored another basket. He was eventually helped off the floor by two trainers.

Walker, 21, averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 75 regular-season games (five starts) this season. He was a first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2023 draft.

Also, backup center Tony Bradley (hip), who was injured in Game 5, didn't see any action.

Siakam was voted the Eastern Conference finals MVP. Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points, 13 assists and three steals for fourth-seeded Indiana. Obi Toppin added 18 points off the bench and Andrew Nembhard had 14 points and six steals for the Pacers.

Indiana will face the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Game 1 is Thursday at Oklahoma City,

OG Anunoby scored 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 14 rebounds for third-seeded New York. Jalen Brunson had 19 points and seven assists and Mikal Bridges had 15 points for the Knicks.

Indiana had a 25-10 edge on fastbreak points to finish the series with a dominating 106-48 in that category.

The Pacers shot 54.1 percent from the field, including a solid 17 of 33 from 3-point range (51.5 percent). Myles Turner and reserve Thomas Bryant had 11 points apiece and Aaron Nesmith added 10 for the Pacers.

New York made 47.7 percent of its shots and was 9 of 32 (28.1 percent) from behind the arc. Landry Shamet had 12 points on four treys off the bench.

New York trailed by 15 entering the final quarter but a basket by Towns and two in a row by Anunoby pulled the Knicks within 92-83 with 10:15 remaining.

Haliburton then took over as he scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the final stanza.

The Pacers pushed the lead back to 14 on a basket by Nembhard with 8:26 left.

Later, a basket by Haliburton and a 3-pointer by Nembhard made it 113-94 with 4:22 left.

Siakam later made two free throws to make it 120-99 with 1:52 left as New York waved the white flag.

Indiana led by four at the break but started the third quarter with 3-pointers by Siakam and Nesmith and a three-point play by Siakam to take a 67-54 lead.

The Knicks were within 69-61 after Brunson's basket with 8:53 left in the period before Bryant (two) and Nembhard (one) combined for three treys in 86 seconds as the Pacers grabbed a 78-63 advantage with 6:44 remaining in the quarter.

Haliburton later ended the third with a dunk as the Pacers had a 34-23 edge over the 12 minutes to expand their lead to 92-77.

Siakam scored 16 first-half points to help the Pacers hold a 58-54 lead at the break. Anunoby scored 14 in the half for New York.