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NBA Playoffs Open Thread – Weekend Edition

Likely the last weekend with NBA games every night for a while.
By | 17 Comments | May 23, 2025

May 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates with teammates after tying the game in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime against the New York Knicks during game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend, Kings fans. Here’s the NBA slate:

Friday: Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks – 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET 

  • Pacers lead the series 1-0

Saturday: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 5:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM ET

  • OKC leads the series 2-0

Sunday: New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers – 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET

  • Series status TBD.

Monday: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 5:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM ET

  • Series status TBD.
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Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
May 23, 2025 5:15 pm

Let’s go Pacers! Beat them major market Knicks!

TheGrantNapear
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May 23, 2025 7:06 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I’d take McConnell as our starting PG in a heartbeat.

NorCalKingsFan
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May 23, 2025 9:25 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

He’s my fav non-Hali G on the Pacers, so steady.

They have so many players I like that don’t even start: Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker, Jalen Smith, TJ McConnell, Ben Sheppard, Ben Mathurin.

The Kings have almost no one they could use outside Keon and Keegan, the roster comparisons are a joke.

TheGrantNapear
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May 24, 2025 7:30 am
Reply to  NorCalKingsFan

Watching the four finalists really clarifies just how far behind the Kings are from the top teams in the league. The amount of depth these four teams have is staggering. That’s the new NBA, have one superstar and a bunch of high end role players.

We don’t have a superstar, nor do we have any depth.

Hobby916
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May 24, 2025 8:47 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

And not nearly enough defensive players. Dort, SGA, Williams, Caruso, Chet. Good luck!

Adamsite
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May 24, 2025 9:17 am
Reply to  NorCalKingsFan

Their depth is incredible and they have a smaller payroll than the Kings! The fact that they have a top 10 pick in Jarace Walker, who is only 21 and shoot 40% from three, getting just 14 minutes per game says it all. Indy only needs to bring back Turner, which they will have the space to do, and they will have everyone back next season, just like OKC.

Klam
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May 23, 2025 8:05 pm

Pacers are two wins away to the Finals. Looking like we’re gonna have a small market NBA Finals this year.

RPO
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RPO
May 23, 2025 11:40 pm

Looking like we’ve got a great chance for an Indy-OKC finals. Which future HOF will Adam Silver send to the L*kers next year to make sure another small-market finals doesn’t happen again?

TheGrantNapear
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May 24, 2025 7:33 am
Reply to  RPO

The NBA will hate Indy/OKC whilst fans will absolutely love it. Just goes to show you the NBA doesn’t care about fans, only their pocketbooks.

I think Hali and SGA are entrenched in their respective cities. However, ANT will end up in MIA at some point imo. His personality and MJesque draw is too big for a small market . ANT and Silver will find a way to get ANT in Mia or on the Fakers.
That pick swap we have of theirs is juicy.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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May 24, 2025 7:37 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Cooper Flagg in Dallas is a major market draw.

Where will Giannis end up is the second half of that, IMO

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
May 24, 2025 9:22 am

If Giannis comes West, the Kings are screwed for years to come. Will Z. over at SI had an interesting proposal, and one that may keep Giannis in Milwaukee: Trade LaVine for Lillard. Lillard is likely out next season so Giannis may want out. Could LaVine be enough firepower to get Giannis to stay? It won’t happen because it’s a tank move by the Kings, and Vivek won’t go for it, but it would also likely bring in a pick or two from the Bucks to eat Lillard’s deal.

Last edited 10 hours ago by Adamsite
Hobby916
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May 24, 2025 10:32 am
Reply to  Adamsite

That would take some serious convincing on Perry’s end to get Vivek on board with that. Some voodoo shit.

Adamsite
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May 24, 2025 10:52 am
Reply to  Hobby916

It sure would, but there are some silver linings to that tank cloud. The Kings would get a disabled player exception to use. That’s an additional full MLE. Then there is the very real chance that Lillard opts out of his lat year in 26-27′ If he doesn’t, Vivek still gets his superstar for one more year, and I’d rather have Lillard than LaVine in 2026.

The Kings this summer would have two full MLEs and potentially a cap space windfall in 26′ if Lillard opts out. Keep in mind, the MLE can now be traded into. Those are some tools and pathways for a quick rebuild.

The Kings could absorb Apron team’s contracts like Okoro, Pritchard, Horford, etc into these MLEs and might even get draft capital for doing so. That’s an OKC type of move. Take advantage of another team’s desire to cut salary.

TheGrantNapear
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May 24, 2025 12:43 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

That Dame / LaVine trade makes a ton of sense for both teams. But like you said, I don’t see Vivek going for it.
It makes sense for Giannis to stay in Mil for another year if they can add someone like Lavine. With tatum out next year and Cle needing to get under the tax, Mil could easily be a top 4 team in the East next year. And if Giannis is fully healthy in the playoffs he could go in total F U mode for two months and end up in the Finals again.

Adamsite
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May 24, 2025 1:58 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

The Bucks are going to have to do something. I doubt Giannis stays if Lillard is just going to sit the entirety of next season. I feel the Bucks are going to need to find someone who is willing to trade for Dame know full well he is not going to play and the Bucks are going to have to add draft capital to make it happen.

I could see a scenario where the Suns try for a Beal for Dame package, but Beal needs to sign off on it. The Suns would probably value Dams’s disabled player exception. The Bucks would probably find value in Beal, but I’d think they’d like LaVine more, especially since he comes cheaper.

Again, I doubt Vivek signs off on it. If I were Perry, I’d bring up how the Warriors traded Monta Ellis for an injured Bogut, and that began their championship run.

Hobby916
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May 24, 2025 4:08 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I could see the Jazz taking on Dame and getting picks from Milwaukee, while sending Sexton and Collins back in return. Or maybe the Kings can get involved too, somehow. Kings land Collins or Portis in the deal (depending on Portis player option)

Klam
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May 24, 2025 7:44 pm

Wow, Minnesota is killing OKC. Did not expect that.

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