There continues to be a growing expectation that the Los Angeles Lakers will eventually hire J.J. Redick as head coach, but they have maintained a decision has not been reached and that they are still considering a number of candidates. While James Borrego is believed to be a serious candidate, the general expectation is that Redick will be hired.

"There's a very strong attempt, maybe I'm giving away my feelings by saying an attempt," said Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective Podcast. "There's a very strong message coming out that the Lakers are still early in their process. That there's still steps to be done. And that they're being very thorough and there's nothing to see here and don't worry about that.

"Probably will have to wait until after The Finals," interjected Tim MacMahon.

"Probably," laughed Windhosrt. "I will report that is what I'm being told by multiple people. And Adrian Wojnarowski has reported the same thing: 'We're not at the checking the boxes, dotting the i's and [crossing] the t's. This is still very much a process and still up in the air.

"Then there is information out there otherwise involving J.J. Redick. I will just sit here and tell you my information on this is scattered. I have some people saying this is J.J. Redick's job that I trust. I have some people saying this is a process that is not complete. I suspect I know something, but I'm just going to tell you that there's multiple streams of information.

"James Borrego has had multiple meetings with the Lakers. I do think he's a viable candidate for sure, but I think J.J. Redick is a very strong candidate. And he also is calling The Finals for our network on ABC and ESPN. So it is what it is.

"The Lakers knew for quite some time that they were going to probably change their coach. Rob Pelinka had a long time to evaluate what his situation and his candidates were. Wherever they are in their process, there's no choice for them to put a lot of thought into this. I don't think they have the most ideal set of candidates they may dream when replacing a head coach who has been successful. But I also think they have a pretty good idea of what they're doing."

New Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon will "immediately" begin his evaluation of Monty Williams, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Williams is not expected to be open to a buyout. 

The Pistons most recently parted ways with former general manager Troy Weaver. 

The team is reportedly in serious discussions with Michael Blackstone as the No. 2 decision-maker in the front office behind Langdon.

Ahead of the 2019 trade deadline, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics discussed a trade centered on Kristaps Porzingis for Kyrie Irving, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

Irving's discontent with the Celtics was becoming apparent and he was strongly linked with an eventual paring with Kevin Durant.

Porzingis was set to enter restricted free agency and the Knicks were pivoting to a plan that they expected would include Durant and possibly Irving.

The Knicks instead traded Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal that included two future first round picks. Porzingis signed a max deal with the Mavericks before playing in a single game, while Irving and Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets. After disappointing stints with their respective teams, Irving was eventually traded to the Mavericks in 2023, while Porzingis was traded to the Wizards in 2022 and then the Celtics in 2023.

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to be aggressive in adding talent this offseason. The Pelicans have several draft picks to offer in trades, as well as players they may consider moving.

New Orleans owns all of their own first-round picks moving forward. They also have extra picks coming from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025 (top-4 protected) and 2027 (unprotected), as well as swap rights with the Bucks in 2026. The Pelicans also own an unprotected Los Angeles Lakers pick in 2025, after deferring that pick from 2024 to 2025.

There is also a possibility that New Orleans could trade Brandon Ingram this summer. Ingram is on an expiring contract worth $36 million. If the Pelicans and Ingram can't agree to an extension, he could be traded this summer. In addition, New Orleans has Trey Murphy III behind Ingram. Murphy is ready for more playing time, as well as being eligible to sign a rookie scale extension this offseason.

Last offseason, Kristaps Porzingis was traded by the Washington Wizards to the Boston Celtics where he picked up his $36 million player option and then signed a two-year, $60 million extension.

If Porzingis would have become a free agent, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports that he was positioned to receive a richer contract from the Utah Jazz.

Porzingis would have joined a versatile frontcourt partner in Lauri Markkanen.

Porzingis instead joined the Celtics and is in The Finals where he is a floor spacer and post option while also protecting the rim on the other end of the floor.

Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam was included on Cameroon's preliminary roster for this summer's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Cameroon will play against Brazil and Montenegro in Group B of the Latvia Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 2 through July 7.

Siakam is set to be an unrestricted free agent just ahead of the tournament starting. Reports are that the Pacers will offer Siakam a maximum contract ahead of his becoming a free agent. Under the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, teams can negotiate with their own free agents between the end of the NBA Finals and the start of free agency on June 30.

Cameroon has also added likely 2024 NBA draftees Yves Missi of Baylor and Ulrich Chomche of the NBA Academy Africa to the preliminary roster. Missi and Chomche could both be first-round picks at the 2024 NBA Draft.

In ESPN's latest mock 2024 NBA Draft, big man DaRon Holmes II is projected to be selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 28th pick. Denver could be looking for a backup big behind Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, and Holmes projects to be able to play both the four and the five in the NBA.

Holmes has been a riser during the pre-draft process. So much so, that the Dayton product has reportedly cancelled several workouts in the weeks leading up to the draft. That has led to speculation that Holmes has secured a promise that he'll be drafted in the first round.

At this point, it's not known if Denver gave Holmes a first-round guarantee. The mock draft combines intel with need, leading to the projection of the 6-foot-10 big man to the Nuggets.

Mike Budenholzer tried to hire Darvin Ham on his coaching staff with the Phoenix Suns, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Budenholzer ended up convincing David Fizdale to stay on the staff once talks with Ham fell through. 

The Warriors also reportedly attempted to hire Ham on Steve Kerr's coaching staff. 

The Indiana Pacers are expected to offer Andrew Nembhard a contract extension this offseason, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Nembhard, who signed a four-year, $8.5 million deal in 2022, is eligible for an extension this summer.

The Pacers are also expected to re-sign Pascal Siakam.

Siakam and Nembhard share the same agent in Life Sports' Todd Ramasar. 

The Wolves just had a dream season, but now must pay to keep this group together, and somehow get better. What will it cost ownership money-wise, and what are the restrictions if they do not avoid the dreaded Second Apron? Could they actually trade Karl-Anthony Towns, and would it make sense to do so as anything other than a money-saving move?

The Kings have Mike Brown back in the fold after some very public negotiations, but they are limited in how much they can pay Malik Monk.  What are their options for improving, both if they can and can’t retain Monk?