June 2025

There were 1,837 posts published in June 2025 (this is page 174 of 184).

2025 NBA Finals: The incredible Paul George trades that turned the Pacers and Thunder into title contenders

As it turns out, all you needed to do to reach the 2025 NBA Finals was trade Paul George.

Remarkably, this year’s Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers and Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder were both built from assets each team received in exchange for dealing George.

Indiana selected George with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He made four All-Star teams for the Pacers, leading them to a pair of conference finals appearances, before informing the franchise in 2017 that he was planning to sign elsewhere — preferably with the Los Angeles Lakers — in free agency.

Not wanting to lose George for nothing, Indiana dealt him to the Thunder on July 6, 2017, in exchange for a 25-year-old Victor Oladipo and a 21-year-old Domantas Sabonis. Both Oladipo and Sabonis developed into All-Stars under Indiana’s watch, though as a tandem they peaked in a pair of first-round playoff exits.

(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

By 2020, Oladipo had begun to experience the right knee problems that would ultimately end his career, so the Pacers flipped him to the Houston Rockets as part of the four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. In return, Indiana received Caris LeVert and a pair of second-round draft picks.

One of those second-rounders became the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, which the Pacers packaged, along with the No. 29 overall pick in the same draft, for a 2024 first-round draft pick from … the Thunder. That selection was one of two first-round draft picks that Indiana dealt to the Toronto Raptors in January 2024 in exchange for Pascal Siakam, this year’s Eastern Conference finals MVP.

Meanwhile, the Pacers flipped LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2022 second-round draft pick, a 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2027 second-round draft pick. The first two of those picks became Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard, a pair of rotation players for this year’s conference champions.

Sabonis played for the Pacers until February 2022, when at the deadline they dealt him and some ancillary assets to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson.

Haliburton, of course, has developed into an All-NBA point guard for the Pacers and their best player.

Finally, Indiana flipped Hield to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2024 trade deadline for a pair of second-round draft picks — the first of which they traded again, turning that selection into Johnny Furphy.

In one way or another, the Pacers turned George into Haliburton, Siakam, Nembhard, Sheppard and Furphy. That is roughly a third of Indiana’s entire roster, half of its rotation and both of its leaders.

George played two seasons for the Thunder — both first-round playoff exits.

In July 2019, though, the Los Angeles Clippers came calling with an offer Oklahoma City could not refuse. The Clippers were trying to sign Kawhi Leonard in free agency, but the two-time Finals MVP wanted a star partner in L.A., so the organization went about the business of trying to pry George from the Thunder.

OKC executive Sam Presti squeezed the Clippers for everything he could, acquiring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and the rights to a handful of first-round draft picks in exchange for George.

As if recouping Gilgeous-Alexander, this year’s MVP, were not enough, one of those picks — the No. 12 selection in 2022 — became Jalen Williams, who has developed into an All-Star for Oklahoma City.

Much of the rest of the package from the Clippers is tied up in this year’s draft, as the Thunder own pick Nos. 15, 24 and 44 in June, all from assets they received in the George deal. Oklahoma City can use those selections to replenish whomever they lose from their rising salary costs over the next couple of years.

Between Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and whoever is still to come, the Thunder have built from George a budding dynasty. First, though, they must get through what they traded to acquire George from Indiana.

2025 NBA Finals: The incredible Paul George trades that turned the Pacers and Thunder into title contenders

As it turns out, all you needed to do to reach the 2025 NBA Finals was trade Paul George.

Remarkably, this year’s Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers and Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder were both built from assets each team received in exchange for dealing George.

Indiana selected George with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He made four All-Star teams for the Pacers, leading them to a pair of conference finals appearances, before informing the franchise in 2017 that he was planning to sign elsewhere — preferably with the Los Angeles Lakers — in free agency.

Not wanting to lose George for nothing, Indiana dealt him to the Thunder on July 6, 2017, in exchange for a 25-year-old Victor Oladipo and a 21-year-old Domantas Sabonis. Both Oladipo and Sabonis developed into All-Stars under Indiana’s watch, though as a tandem they peaked in a pair of first-round playoff exits.

(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

By 2020, Oladipo had begun to experience the right knee problems that would ultimately end his career, so the Pacers flipped him to the Houston Rockets as part of the four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. In return, Indiana received Caris LeVert and a pair of second-round draft picks.

One of those second-rounders became the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, which the Pacers packaged, along with the No. 29 overall pick in the same draft, for a 2024 first-round draft pick from … the Thunder. That selection was one of two first-round draft picks that Indiana dealt to the Toronto Raptors in January 2024 in exchange for Pascal Siakam, this year’s Eastern Conference finals MVP.

Meanwhile, the Pacers flipped LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2022 second-round draft pick, a 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2027 second-round draft pick. The first two of those picks became Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard, a pair of rotation players for this year’s conference champions.

Sabonis played for the Pacers until February 2022, when at the deadline they dealt him and some ancillary assets to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson.

Haliburton, of course, has developed into an All-NBA point guard for the Pacers and their best player.

Finally, Indiana flipped Hield to the Philadelphia 76ers at the 2024 trade deadline for a pair of second-round draft picks — the first of which they traded again, turning that selection into Johnny Furphy.

In one way or another, the Pacers turned George into Haliburton, Siakam, Nembhard, Sheppard and Furphy. That is roughly a third of Indiana’s entire roster, half of its rotation and both of its leaders.

George played two seasons for the Thunder — both first-round playoff exits.

In July 2019, though, the Los Angeles Clippers came calling with an offer Oklahoma City could not refuse. The Clippers were trying to sign Kawhi Leonard in free agency, but the two-time Finals MVP wanted a star partner in L.A., so the organization went about the business of trying to pry George from the Thunder.

OKC executive Sam Presti squeezed the Clippers for everything he could, acquiring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and the rights to a handful of first-round draft picks in exchange for George.

As if recouping Gilgeous-Alexander, this year’s MVP, were not enough, one of those picks — the No. 12 selection in 2022 — became Jalen Williams, who has developed into an All-Star for Oklahoma City.

Much of the rest of the package from the Clippers is tied up in this year’s draft, as the Thunder own pick Nos. 15, 24 and 44 in June, all from assets they received in the George deal. Oklahoma City can use those selections to replenish whomever they lose from their rising salary costs over the next couple of years.

Between Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and whoever is still to come, the Thunder have built from George a budding dynasty. First, though, they must get through what they traded to acquire George from Indiana.

Coros Just Launched a New Repair and Exchange Program for Its Fitness Watches

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Before you toss your broken smartwatch and buy a replacement, get this: Coros has introduced a new repair service. The process is a beautifully straightforward exchange model: You need a battery or screen replacement, you send them your watch and a payment, and they send you a working, refurbished watch. The program offers battery, screen, button, and digital dial replacements. If you could use an upgrade or repair on your Coros watch, here’s what you need to know.

How the Coros repair program works

If you need repairs, like a battery replacement or screen fix, all you need to do is visit coros.com/repairs to initiate the process. The repair process can take up to 30 days. Instead of waiting without a device for a month, you can get a replacement immediately to keep training uninterrupted. This means you aren’t getting your physical watch back, but also, it means minimal disruption to training schedules and recovery tracking. The company’s goal is keeping products in active use for as long as possible.

Eligible devices

The following Coros products are eligible for repairs:

Pricing

The repair program covers several common issues athletes face with their devices, with the cost of your repairs dependent on the device and service needed. Fees range from $59 to $89 for battery replacement, and $79 to $119 for cracks, scratches, and backlight malfunctions. Here’s the full breakdown.

  • Pace 3: $59 for battery replacement, $79 for screen/dial/button repair

  • Pace Pro: $59 for battery replacement, $89 for screen/dial/button repair

  • Apex 2: $69 for battery replacement, $99 for screen/dial/button repair

  • Apex 2 Pro: $69 for battery replacement, $99 for screen/dial/button repair

  • Vertix 2S: $89 for battery replacement, $119 for screen/dial/button repair

  • DURA: $69 for battery replacement, $99 for screen/dial/button repair

COROS PACE 3


$229.00
at Amazon

The bottom line

Coros’ repair program is pretty good, and definitely more accessible and affordable compared to Apple or Garmin repair options. Coros’ approach stands out with the fact that once they receive your return, you get a refurbished device immediately. This really does solve a key pain point for serious athletes who rely on consistent data tracking. While other manufacturers may offer repairs, few prioritize maintaining the user’s training continuity. The program also suits anyone who prefers their favorite, reliable devices over frequently upgrading to the latest models.

Again, full details are available at coros.com/repairs.

Pacers vs. Thunder: How Indiana wisely and efficiently built a championship finalist

As the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to face each other in the NBA Finals, it’s worth a moment to look back at how they each got there, through the lens of their respective roster construction.

First off, let’s take a look at the Pacers, who used a more traditional approach to get where they are.

Indiana applied a model that’s becoming increasingly popular among NBA teams, which entails having two max-level contracts and considerable depth on the bench.

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports illustration)

What’s interesting is how neither Tyrese Haliburton nor Pascal Siakam were drafted by the Pacers, meaning both were external acquisitions — from the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors, respectively.

Indiana shipped All-Star center Domantas Sabonis to the Kings in a deal for Haliburton, who at the time was available due to the presence of De’Aaron Fox.

(Side note: Why is Sacramento afraid of having multiple ball-handlers? This is the same team that allegedly had issues with the idea of drafting Luka Dončić in 2018, also due to the presence of Fox. Guys, you can have more players who can dribble the ball, promise!)

With Sabonis and Haliburton swapping places, and the latter landing in a place where there was a need for a primary player, Haliburton took full advantage of the available role.

This resulted in Haliburton signing a max rookie extension with the Pacers after his third season, which turned into a 30% maximum salary, as opposed to the regular 25%, due to him making All-NBA in 2023-2024.

As for Siakam, who won a title with the Raptors in 2019, he became available when the organization decided to pivot into a major retooling process, clearing the path for Indiana to make a push for him.

Fortunately for the Pacers, this time around they didn’t have to relinquish a player in the same quality tier as Sabonis. Instead, they sacrificed draft equity, giving up two 2024 selections in the first round and a 2026 first-rounder.

(One of those selections was acquired via Oklahoma City in an earlier trade in the summer of 2023.)

As for salary-matching, the Pacers primed themselves perfectly months before, when they’d signed Bruce Brown to a massive $45 million deal over just two seasons.

Brown’s outgoing salary of $22 million, combined with the contracts of other less notable players, ultimately allowed the Pacers to absorb Siakam, and thus a duo was formed that would lay the foundation for the team we’ll now be seeing in the Finals.

This isn’t to say the Pacers didn’t have weapons even before the acquisitions of Haliburton and Siakam.

Myles Turner has spent his entire professional career, now stretching a decade, with the Pacers since being selected 11th overall in 2015 out of Texas.

The 3-point shooting center, who is also an elite defender, became one of the first true 3&D centers in the NBA and remains one of the most consistent of his kind.

The 29-year-old, who had to navigate constant trade rumors for well over five seasons, leveled up his game three years ago, turning himself into a more evolved — and involved — scorer than before and has now settled into a role where he’s either the third or fourth option any given night.

As for other crucial members of the core, they too were acquired without Indiana relinquishing its entire future.

Bennedict Mathurin was selected sixth overall in 2022 and has developed into a fully capable scorer with a keen sense for drawing fouls.

Later in that same draft, Andrew Nembhard was selected as the first pick of the second round. The 25-year-old was an older rookie, but proved good enough to warrant a three-year contract extension worth $59 million, which he signed last summer. The contract will go into full effect this July.

Just days after selecting Mathurin and Nembhard, the Pacers made a trade with the Boston Celtics in which they forked over veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon in a deal to acquire Aaron Nesmith, who has now become a high-end two-way starter.

In 2023, the Pacers extended Nesmith with a deal that ranks among the best in the NBA at three years and $33 million.

Also in 2023, the Pacers traded for Knicks forward Obi Toppin, a former lottery selection, giving up only two second-round selections. The 27-year-old is now one of the most potent bench scorers on the team.

It’s difficult to find many flaws with how the Pacers have constructed this team. They didn’t hit obvious home runs on every roster decision, but they did move forward, ever so slightly, with every move and within their timeline.

Essentially, they were just rock solid in how they built this team. They took swings, yes, but also took safer routes more times than not.

Additionally, it’s how they’ve dealt with their acquisitions post-trade that has been enormously impressive. Nesmith is one of the best deals in the league. Turner is a free agent this summer, but he’s been a bargain for years now. Even Toppin, who is on a fairly large deal with another $45 million remaining after this year, is productive and can be moved if needed.

And while this team will get expensive in the future — to the point where it likely will have to enter luxury-tax territory — you can still make the argument that not a single contract on its cap sheet is considered a bad asset.

The Pacers haven’t been flashy, but they’ve been about as stellar as any team could hope to be, and as a direct result of their efforts, they now find themselves in the NBA Finals.

Pacers vs. Thunder: How Indiana wisely and efficiently built a championship finalist

As the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to face each other in the NBA Finals, it’s worth a moment to look back at how they each got there, through the lens of their respective roster construction.

First off, let’s take a look at the Pacers, who used a more traditional approach to get where they are.

Indiana applied a model that’s becoming increasingly popular among NBA teams, which entails having two max-level contracts and considerable depth on the bench.

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports illustration)

What’s interesting is how neither Tyrese Haliburton nor Pascal Siakam were drafted by the Pacers, meaning both were external acquisitions — from the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors, respectively.

Indiana shipped All-Star center Domantas Sabonis to the Kings in a deal for Haliburton, who at the time was available due to the presence of De’Aaron Fox.

(Side note: Why is Sacramento afraid of having multiple ball-handlers? This is the same team that allegedly had issues with the idea of drafting Luka Dončić in 2018, also due to the presence of Fox. Guys, you can have more players who can dribble the ball, promise!)

With Sabonis and Haliburton swapping places, and the latter landing in a place where there was a need for a primary player, Haliburton took full advantage of the available role.

This resulted in Haliburton signing a max rookie extension with the Pacers after his third season, which turned into a 30% maximum salary, as opposed to the regular 25%, due to him making All-NBA in 2023-2024.

As for Siakam, who won a title with the Raptors in 2019, he became available when the organization decided to pivot into a major retooling process, clearing the path for Indiana to make a push for him.

Fortunately for the Pacers, this time around they didn’t have to relinquish a player in the same quality tier as Sabonis. Instead, they sacrificed draft equity, giving up two 2024 selections in the first round and a 2026 first-rounder.

(One of those selections was acquired via Oklahoma City in an earlier trade in the summer of 2023.)

As for salary-matching, the Pacers primed themselves perfectly months before, when they’d signed Bruce Brown to a massive $45 million deal over just two seasons.

Brown’s outgoing salary of $22 million, combined with the contracts of other less notable players, ultimately allowed the Pacers to absorb Siakam, and thus a duo was formed that would lay the foundation for the team we’ll now be seeing in the Finals.

This isn’t to say the Pacers didn’t have weapons even before the acquisitions of Haliburton and Siakam.

Myles Turner has spent his entire professional career, now stretching a decade, with the Pacers since being selected 11th overall in 2015 out of Texas.

The 3-point shooting center, who is also an elite defender, became one of the first true 3&D centers in the NBA and remains one of the most consistent of his kind.

The 29-year-old, who had to navigate constant trade rumors for well over five seasons, leveled up his game three years ago, turning himself into a more evolved — and involved — scorer than before and has now settled into a role where he’s either the third or fourth option any given night.

As for other crucial members of the core, they too were acquired without Indiana relinquishing its entire future.

Bennedict Mathurin was selected sixth overall in 2022 and has developed into a fully capable scorer with a keen sense for drawing fouls.

Later in that same draft, Andrew Nembhard was selected as the first pick of the second round. The 25-year-old was an older rookie, but proved good enough to warrant a three-year contract extension worth $59 million, which he signed last summer. The contract will go into full effect this July.

Just days after selecting Mathurin and Nembhard, the Pacers made a trade with the Boston Celtics in which they forked over veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon in a deal to acquire Aaron Nesmith, who has now become a high-end two-way starter.

In 2023, the Pacers extended Nesmith with a deal that ranks among the best in the NBA at three years and $33 million.

Also in 2023, the Pacers traded for Knicks forward Obi Toppin, a former lottery selection, giving up only two second-round selections. The 27-year-old is now one of the most potent bench scorers on the team.

It’s difficult to find many flaws with how the Pacers have constructed this team. They didn’t hit obvious home runs on every roster decision, but they did move forward, ever so slightly, with every move and within their timeline.

Essentially, they were just rock solid in how they built this team. They took swings, yes, but also took safer routes more times than not.

Additionally, it’s how they’ve dealt with their acquisitions post-trade that has been enormously impressive. Nesmith is one of the best deals in the league. Turner is a free agent this summer, but he’s been a bargain for years now. Even Toppin, who is on a fairly large deal with another $45 million remaining after this year, is productive and can be moved if needed.

And while this team will get expensive in the future — to the point where it likely will have to enter luxury-tax territory — you can still make the argument that not a single contract on its cap sheet is considered a bad asset.

The Pacers haven’t been flashy, but they’ve been about as stellar as any team could hope to be, and as a direct result of their efforts, they now find themselves in the NBA Finals.

Suns coaching search reportedly down to two: Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant, Jordan Ott

Phoenix will be getting its next coach from 64-win Cleveland, a team that exceeded expectations this regular season (which didn’t exactly happen with the Suns).

Which coach from Kenny Atkinson’s staff remains to be seen, but the Suns are down to two finalists: Associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and assistant coach Jordan Ott, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by other sources. Both will meet with the Suns’ hands-on owner (and decision maker) Mat Ishbia.

Ott has been an assistant coach in Atlanta, Brooklyn, and with the Los Angeles Lakers, plus has the advantage of being a former video coordinator with Michigan State (where Ishbia played in college, the Suns are full of guys with Spartan ties. Bryant has been an assistant coach in Utah Jazz and New York.

Whichever man is hired, he will be the fourth Suns coach in the last four seasons. He takes over for Mike Budenhozer, who was fired following a massively disappointing 36-46 finish (the Suns failed to make even the play-in despite one of the highest payrolls in the league). This would be the first head coaching job for either candidate, and both are known for wanting players to show some grit and toughness (something the Suns felt they lacked last season).

Bryant or Ott will take over a roster that looks different from last season’s. Phoenix is expected to trade Kevin Durant and, if possible, Bradley Beal, then retool around Devin Booker (while getting under the second tax apron). The new coach will work under new Suns GM Brian Gregory, although Ishbia is hands-on and the ultimate decision-maker. What the Suns need more than just a new coach or general manager is an organizational philosophy and style of play where everyone in the franchise, starting with Ishbia, is on the same page and adheres to that plan for multiple years, acquiring players who fit the style. If the Suns need an example of what that looks like, the Indiana Pacers, who are still playing in the NBA Finals, may be the best example of executing a philosophy in the league right now.