Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is likely to miss Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Porzingis is rehabbing from a strained right calf.

The Celtics are awaiting the winner of the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers series. The Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 21. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 23.

Porzingis was injured in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Miami Heat. The Celtics went on to win that series in five games. Then, Boston was without their starting center for the entire five-game victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.

The Celtics have continued to express optimism that Porzingis would return at some point in the playoffs. Now, it looks like that return may come in the middle of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Mike Budenholzer had his introductory press conference as head coach of the Phoenix Suns on Friday. 

"I'm excited about working with this roster and these players," Budenholzer said. "We have great players. And with great players come great expectations. I think we embrace that."

Budenholzer return to coaching after his dismissal in 2023 by the Milwaukee Bucks.

"This year, for me, was really healthy," Budenholzer said. "I kind of had a list of priorities, diving into my kids and my family, super important. We've been through a lot. So really, the time with my kids was just amazing. My son's a senior in high school -- going to every one of his games -- driving home you're like, 'Wow, I got a gift."

While the Suns are limited on how they can remake their roster, Budenholzer said he'd at least like to add a point guard.

"The conversations have been great and there's no doubt that we need to look at the whole roster and talk about point guard," Budenholzer said. "I'm sure it's a hot-button issue here, whether it's with the media, players or the front office. We need to think about it.

"We need to be able to play without one. We probably need to be able to have one. We need to be versatile -- play different ways."

Budenholzer ultimately talked about coaching the Suns is his dream job.

"The biggest message I want you to hear is that I would coach this team if it was on the moon," Budenholzer said, grinning. "I would coach this team if it was in Alaska. If these players were in Denmark. ... I would go anywhere to coach this team."

The Phoenix Suns are expected to hire Matt Tellem for a role in their front office.

Tellem currently serves as vice president of strategy for the Brooklyn Nets.

Tellem is the son of Arn Tellem, who is former agent and current executive with the Detroit Pistons. 

Josh Hart exited the New York Knicks' Game 6 loss against the Indiana Pacers with abdominal soreness. 

Hart was clearly limited by the injury in the game.

The Knicks will host the Pacers in Game 7 on Sunday. 

The Toronto Raptors plan to pick up their $23 million option on Bruce Brown Jr. with the intent of trading him this offseason, sources tell Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.

The Raptors acquired Brown from the Indiana Pacers as part of the Pascal Siakam trade and discussed moving him at the trade deadline, but no deal materialized.

The Raptors are believed to be motivated to trade Brown in the offseason rather than at the 2025 trade deadline. Brown had a somewhat disappointing tenure with the Raptors. Brown revealed after the season that he was dealing with a knee issue.

Zach Edey knows the current NBA is all about centers who can step out and shoot. Edey thinks he can do that too, but he's more focused on staying true to his game.

“I think it just comes with kind of realizing who I am,” Edey said. “I’m never going to be the wiry seven-foot guy who can — like Kevin Durant, that is never going to be me, guys like that. I’m a 7-foot-4, 300-pound guy. I’m built to be in the paint, to carve out space to protect my area. And that’s what I’m gonna keep doing. I think there’s a lot of people in the NBA that do stuff like that. (Jonas) Valanciunas, (Ivica) Zubac, Steven Adams; guys who had a lot of success in the NBA being those paint presences. I’m going to stick to who I am and I kind of know who I am.”

The Purdue product measured in at nearly 7-foot-4 without shoes at the NBA Draft Combine. He also ended up with a nearly 7-foot-11 wingspan. That size, combined with his skill and timing, made Edey one of college basketball's best shot-blockers last season.

That skill, plus his ability to control the glass, is what Edey plans to bring initially into the NBA.

“A team would be drafting me for who I am,” Edey said. “I think I can get there but right now they’re not drafting me for, like, pick-and-pop shoot 3s. Right now, they’re drafting me to get in the paint, get rebounds, protect the paint. Obviously, you saw in my shooting drills I can shoot. I can do stuff like that if you ask me to.

“But it all just comes down to what the team asks me to do at the end of the day.”

Minnesota and Mike Conley bounce off the mat to destroy Denver and push the Nuggets to their first Game 7 since 2020. How did the Wolves hold Denver to 70 points and how much can be repeated in Game 7?

Also, we look at the key free agent centers in a thin group that includes Isaiah Hartenstein, Nic Claxton, and Jonas Valanciunas. Are there any sleepers we’d be targeting?

John and Nate catch up on the playoffs so far and discuss:

• The best team so far?
• Who among the Cavs principles of JB Bickerstaff, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will be back next year?
• Whether Jalen Brunson has emerged as a top-5 player?
• The coaching performances
• The playoff crucible
• Who withstood?
• Who is ash?
• Whether drafting Bronny James on his own merits would be as absurd as some are making it out to be

The Utah Jazz have expressed interest in working out Bronny James, sources told Krysten Peek of Yahoo! Sports.

The team could be interested in selecting James with the 32nd pick in the upcoming draft.

James said earlier in the week that his focus was getting to the league instead of playing with LeBron James. 

The Washington Wizards hired Michael Hartman to oversee its strategy and analytics division, sources told Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. 

Hartman was previously the senior director of basketball operations for the Pelicans.

The Wizards are expected to make more front office hires this summer.