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<\/p>\nFollowing the NBA Draft Combine and through the Conference Finals, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on the futures of stars Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard, where some top draft prospects are projected to land for the Clippers, Hawks, and Kings, front office updates on the Lakers, 76ers, and Jazz, and coaching updates on the Bulls, Blazers, and Pelicans.<\/p>\n
How long can Kyrie Irving fit alongside Cooper Flagg?<\/p>\n
Oct 6, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right) watch the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Dickie’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
When Masai Ujiri was hired as Mavericks president and alternate governor, he joined Utah\u2019s Danny Ainge, Brooklyn\u2019s Sean Marks, and Denver\u2019s Josh Kroenke as current team executives with an additional alternate governor title or higher ranking.<\/p>\n
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Since the hiring of Ujiri, his message has been clear \u2013 everything going forward is about Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg\u2019s development and building around the 19-year-old phenom. In multiple media availabilities since being hired, Ujiri has publicly said that pairing Kyrie Irving is part of that endeavor.<\/p>\n
\u201cKevin Durant once told me that there\u2019s only one Kyrie walking around in the world,\u201d Ujiri said most recently. \u201cYeah, I think we have to figure out a way how Kyrie fits with our program. I\u2019ve had those conversations with Kyrie. I think Kyrie will fit. There\u2019s a huge curiosity in our minds to see how Kyrie fits playing with Cooper Flagg. He\u2019s just that kind of like an incredible talent and player. I think we owe this organization that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet, Ujiri\u2019s adjoining stance that Flagg and Irving can form an effective duo has left rival executives around the league wondering how long Irving, a nine-time All-Star who\u2019s coming off a torn left ACL and just turned 34, can co-exist with Flagg when the two players are on different career timelines?<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s also worth noting that Irving had immense respect for former Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who was his idol growing up as a New Jersey Nets fan. Now, while owed $39.49 million for the 2026-27 season and has a $42.42 million player option for the 2027-28 season, how will Irving respond to a new head coach and coming back from a torn ACL?<\/p>\n
Notwithstanding, new Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz echoed Ujiri\u2019s sentiment and lauded the pairing of Flagg and Irving on paper when looking ahead to the upcoming season. \u201cThat\u2019s something you dream of,\u201d Schmitz said. \u201cHaving a magician with the ball like that who can pass, dribble, shoot, and someone with the connective qualities of Cooper. It\u2019s a match made in Heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the Mavericks and Irving find out the answers to these questions, executives around the league will monitor Irving\u2019s return to play and fit alongside Flagg.<\/p>\n
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Meanwhile, the Mavericks will have a top-10 pick in the draft in consecutive years for the first time since 2017 and 2018, which gave Schmitz confidence that Dallas can get a \u201crotation-level player\u201d with their pick.<\/p>\n
While Schmitz will be tasked with helping Ujiri identify the right young talent to add to the Mavericks, more help may be on the way.<\/p>\n
According to league sources, the Mavericks have expressed interest in adding Philadelphia\u2019s Prosper Karangwa to their front office, and Toronto\u2019s director of global scouting, Patrick Englebrecht, is also a candidate to reunite with Ujiri in Dallas after they worked together since the 2013-14 season.<\/p>\n
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What\u2019s next for Kawhi Leonard and the No. 5 pick?![\"Apr](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3b9b5c2e09d46e0e27f039e8986355be.jpeg\"\/)
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Apr 7, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Within league circles, there are three questions surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a>:<\/p>\n 1. When and what will be the result of the league\u2019s Aspiration investigation involving Kawhi Leonard, president Lawrence Frank, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, etc.?<\/p>\n 2. Following one of the best seasons of Leonard\u2019s career, will the Clippers get an extension done with him, or gauge his value on the trade market?<\/p>\n 3. What will the Clippers do with their No. 5 overall draft pick?<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Only the league knows when and what will be the conclusion of their Aspiration investigation. Yet, during the Play-In Tournament, Leonard proclaimed<\/a>, \u201cI think that we’re going to be in the clear, like I\u2019ve told you before, so I’m not stressing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Nonetheless, amid the investigation, the Clippers got younger by trading James Harden for Darius Garland and also accumulated valuable draft assets by trading Ivica Zubac for what turned out to be the fifth pick in this year\u2019s draft, a 2029 unprotected Pacers first rounder, and a 2028 Mavericks second rounder, with Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson.<\/p>\n With the Clippers trending towards a youth movement in their recent blockbuster transactions, rival executives are monitoring Leonard\u2019s future closely as the seven-time All-Star turns 35 in June.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n In fact, several executives have put Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo neck-and-neck for the best player to try to acquire on the trade market if Leonard indeed becomes available.<\/p>\n Conversely, if Leonard signs an extension, would the Clippers flip the fifth pick as part of a larger package to acquire a star who\u2019s ready to contribute more readily?<\/p>\n Should the Clippers utilize the fifth pick, the predominant belief among rival executives at the NBA Draft Combine and since is that Keaton Wagler is the top candidate to be selected.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n More intel will unfold in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.<\/p>\n Hawks draft and coaching intel Apr 6, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) celebrates after cutting down a piece of the net after defeating the Connecticut Huskies in the national championship of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Following the NBA Draft Lottery, the Atlanta Hawks landed the eighth pick in the draft via the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> from the Derik Queen trade. Since then, rival executives who\u2019ve spoken with HoopsHype project the Hawks to select either a point guard, with one of Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff, and Kingston Flemings expected to be available, or Michigan 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n While Atlanta wants to re-sign veteran guard CJ McCollum in free agency, according to league sources, the 13-year veteran turns 35 in September, and the Hawks could use depth at point guard.<\/p>\n Hawks coach Quin Snyder had success with Rudy Gobert, who has a similar physique to Mara and won three of his four Defensive Player of the Year awards while under Snyder\u2019s guidance with the Utah Jazz<\/a>. The Hawks could also use an infusion of size and rim protection to their frontcourt, which Mara would certainly bring.<\/p>\n Speaking of Snyder, he and the Hawks are expected to have extension discussions, as first reported<\/a> by HoopsHype on April 12. Snyder is entering the final year of his contract, going into the 2026-27 season. Hawks executive Onsi Saleh and Snyder have developed a notably strong synergy while working together.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Snyder\u2019s assistant coaching staff will have some holes to fill with Butler plucking Ronald Nored to be their head coach and also adding former Hawks coaching associate Conner Varney, as previously reported<\/a> by HoopsHype.<\/p>\n One potential candidate to monitor for Atlanta\u2019s assistant coaching staff is the team\u2019s College Park Skyhawks G League head coach, Steve Klei.<\/p>\n In addition, it\u2019s worth noting that Hawks assistant coach Bryan Bailey interviewed for the head coaching position with the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>, league sources told HoopsHype. Bailey has been an assistant coach for Snyder with the Hawks and the Utah Jazz. He was also an assistant coach for Jazz coach Will Hardy.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Sacramento Kings draft target emerging? Mar 21, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives against High Point Panthers forward Cam’ron Fletcher (11) in the second half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The Sacramento Kings are enamored with Arkansas star guard Darius Acuff Jr., according to league sources, but will he still be on the board by the seventh overall pick?<\/p>\n Acuff, who\u2019s considered a gifted offensive playmaker and scorer, measured well at the combine with a nearly 6-foot-7 wingspan after executives questioned his defensive potential, looking ahead to the NBA level. The SEC Player of the Year led the conference in points per game (23.5), assists (6.4), and minutes (35.1). He also shot a blistering 44 percent beyond the arc for good measure.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting Sacramento\u2019s general manager, Scott Perry, coached Darius Acuff Sr. at Eastern Kentucky, as Sacramento is in search of a long-term floor general for the future.\u00a0Should Acuff Jr. be off the board, other guards such as Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., and Kingston Flemings could be available.<\/p>\n Bulls coaching search update\u00a0 Oct 29, 2022; Sacramento, California, USA; Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn talks on the bench during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n As the Chicago Bulls<\/a> begin their coaching search under new EVP of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, several highly regarded lead assistant coaches hoping to become first-time NBA head coaches across the league have emerged as candidates, including San Antonio\u2019s Sean Sweeney, Minnesota\u2019s Micah Nori, Oklahoma City\u2019s Dave Bliss, and Charlotte\u2019s Lamar Skeeter.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n In addition, the Bulls will interview<\/a> Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn as part of their head coaching search, league sources told HoopsHype. Quinn has a strong background in player development and has worked as an assistant coach on Erik Spoelstra\u2019s staff since 2014.<\/p>\n Furthermore, Cleveland Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant is a potential candidate being considered for Chicago\u2019s head coaching position, league sources told HoopsHype. Bryant was a finalist<\/a> for Phoenix\u2019s head coaching job before Jordan Ott was ultimately hired.<\/p>\n Others with NBA head coaching experience, such as Wes Unseld Jr. and James Borrego, have been linked to the Chicago Bulls due to the team’s organizational ties. Unseld Jr. has been an assistant coach for Billy Donovan in Chicago for the past two seasons after a three-year stint as Washington\u2019s head coach. Borrego spent two different stints with Graham in New Orleans.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter is also in the mix for Chicago. However, Splitter has remained in contact with Portland throughout the team\u2019s head coaching search and is among Portland\u2019s finalists to be the team\u2019s permanent head coach, league sources told HoopsHype.<\/p>\n Overall, given the current pool of candidates, there\u2019s a strong chance Chicago will hire a first-time head coach who will be tasked with an emphasis on player development as the organization begins to rebuild.<\/p>\n Where things stand with Portland\u2019s coaching search\u00a0 Apr 2, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Tom Dundon, the new owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, before a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images<\/p>\n New Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon has cut costs since arriving and is projected to have the lowest-paying head coach in the league by the end of the team\u2019s search. These circumstances have led some of the NBA\u2019s top assistant coaches and some college head coaches to decline Portland\u2019s interest in them for the job. Yet, others have valued the opportunity to interview and compete for one of the 30 NBA head coaching jobs available.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter has remained in contact with Portland throughout the team\u2019s head coaching search and is expected to be among Portland\u2019s finalists for the job, league sources told HoopsHype. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls also have interest in Splitter for their head coaching vacancy.<\/p>\n Numerous candidates have been in the mix for Portland\u2019s head coaching job, along with Splitter. HoopsHype previously reported Portland interviewed Denver\u2019s<\/a> Jared Dudley and Houston\u2019s<\/a> Ben Sullivan as part of their coaching search.<\/p>\n Quietly, the Trail Blazers also interviewed Hawks assistant coach Bryan Bailey for Portland\u2019s head coaching position, league sources told HoopsHype. Bailey has been an assistant coach for Quin Snyder with the Hawks and the Utah Jazz. He was also an assistant coach for Jazz coach Will Hardy.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Portland also called the Cleveland Cavaliers for permission to speak with assistant coach Omar Cook early in the process, which was believed to be for a possible assistant coaching position, league sources told HoopsHype.<\/p>\n Other reported candidates, including Terry Stotts, Jeff Van Gundy, Micah Nori, Mike Williams, Greg St. Jean, Jerry Stackhouse, and Tyler Lashbrook, have also been a part of the process.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that former Dallas Mavericks<\/a> head coach Jason Kidd has quietly been connected to Portland within league circles. Yet, will that chatter lead to anything more substantive now or in the future?<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n One bookmark worth recalling is the last time Portland had a coaching search in 2021, Damian Lillard told Yahoo Sports<\/a>, \u201cJason Kidd is the guy I want.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, Portland\u2019s current price range for a head coach is well below Kidd\u2019s remaining contract with the Mavericks, which is for four years and $40 million, according to ESPN<\/a>. Kidd also expressed a desire to make front office personnel decisions before Dallas hired Masai Ujiri and Portland general manager Joe Cronin signed a multi-year contract extension in April of 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thus, while the stars may not align on paper for a pairing with Kidd at this juncture, there\u2019s been enough scuttlebutt leaguewide worth keeping tabs on looking ahead.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Overall, it\u2019s hard to pinpoint a leading candidate for Portland\u2019s head coaching position heading into Memorial Day Weekend, as talk of varying finalists and candidates spread like wildfire during the day on Friday.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for the Pelicans after hiring Jamahl Mosley? May 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley walks off after the game against the Detroit Pistons after game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Now that New Orleans head coach Jamahl Mosley is officially in the fold, he\u2019s begun working on his assistant coaching staff for the Pelicans.<\/p>\n Mosley\u2019s coaching staff is expected to include Pelicans holdovers Greg Monroe, Jodie Meeks, Mike Hopkins, and Will Bynum, league sources told HoopsHype.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Additionally, Dale Osbourne and Bret Brielmaier, who were both a part of Mosley\u2019s assistant coaching staff with the Orlando Magic, are strong candidates to join Mosley in New Orleans, league sources told HoopsHype.<\/p>\n Osbourne was in charge of Orlando\u2019s defense and also worked as an assistant coach on Terry Stotts\u2019 staff in Portland. In addition to working on Mosley\u2019s staff in Orlando, Brielmaier was Long Island Nets G League head coach, worked as an assistant coach with Brooklyn for Kenny Atkinson and Jacque Vaughn, and with Cleveland for Mike Brown, David Blatt, and Ty Lue.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for Philadelphia\u2019s front office?\u00a0 Feb 23, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers talks during the Andre Iguodala jersey retirement ceremony at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images<\/p>\n After the Philadelphia 76ers and Daryl Morey parted ways, managing partner Josh Harris tasked HBSE president Bob Myers with finding a new leader of basketball operations.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Thus far, external candidates, including Cleveland\u2019s Mike Gansey, Minnesota\u2019s Matt Lloyd, and Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren, have emerged. Internally, 76ers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson has also positioned himself well to remain with the organization and be in the mix for a possible promotion, league sources told HoopsHype.<\/p>\n While Nelson appears to be the safest of any current 76ers executive on staff, it\u2019s unclear what\u2019s next for others on the staff. For example, Prosper Karangwa has drawn interest from the Lakers and Mavericks, league sources told HoopsHype.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, other plausible candidates could\u2019ve been a part of the search, but ultimately are not. Despite strong ties to Myers from their time together in Golden State, Atlanta\u2019s Onsi Saleh won\u2019t be a part of the search. Saleh finished second in the league\u2019s executive of the year voting, and after losing Bryson Graham to the Bulls, the Hawks declined to let the 76ers interview Saleh. Andre Iguodala, who won four NBA championships and has a close relationship with Myers, also didn\u2019t end up being a part of the process when many around the league speculated he\u2019d be a potential candidate.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Ultimately, whoever is hired will have to work with head coach Nick Nurse, who was retained. Nurse has two years left on his contract, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, Myers is expected to be involved in all major transactional decisions for the 76ers moving forward, even after a new basketball operations leader is hired.<\/p>\n The search for a new basketball operations leader is expected to continue to the next stage sometime next week.<\/p>\n Lakers front office candidates\u00a0 Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka shows off the NBA scoring champion trophy, along with the player of the month award give to guard Luka Doncic (77) prior to game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> have expressed interest in several candidates for their front office openings, including Timberwolves assistant general manager Steve Senior, 76ers assistant general manager Prosper Karangwa, Heat vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler, Jazz vice president of player personnel Bart Taylor, and others, league sources told HoopsHype.<\/p>\n Senior passed on an offer from the Lakers and decided to remain with the Timberwolves. With the 76ers and Daryl Morey parting ways, Karangwa has received interest from the Lakers and Mavericks, HoopsHype has learned. Amsler has been with the Heat for 22 years, including winning three NBA championships in seven appearances. Taylor was previously the G League Executive of the Year with Utah\u2019s Salt Lake City Stars.<\/p>\n Utah Jazz G League executive change\u00a0\u00a0 Apr 7, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Utah Jazz logo is seen on a uniform during a time out against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The Utah Jazz will name Shane Fenske as general manager of their G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, league sources told HoopsHype. Fenske is also Utah\u2019s assistant general manager. Previously, the Yale graduate worked for the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers.<\/p>\n You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto<\/a>) on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Blue Sky (@MikeAScotto<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n This content may be blocked in parts of Europe due to\u00a0GDPR<\/a>. To use it, connect your\u00a0VPN<\/a>\u00a0to a non-EU country and try again.<\/p>\n We highly recommend you add HoopsHype as a preferred\u00a0source\u00a0on Google. You just have to\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Intel: Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, NBA Draft, Lakers, 76ers, Hawks, Bulls, Blazers, Pelicans, Kings, Jazz<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Apr](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/b08eb2e0f4d916762b6c9296a51db865.jpeg\"\/)
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