2026 NBA buzz: Latest news, injuries, league intel, updates

The 2025-26 NBA regular season is coming to a close and the playoff picture is starting to solidify, but discussions about the draft and offseason have already begun.

With the 10 teams already eliminated from the playoff race, the focus has turned to the May 10 NBA Draft Lottery order and how it impacts their franchises.

The 2026 Draft (June 25 and 26) is widely viewed as deep and talented; Many of the top players are expected to become future stars in the league, resulting in some of the most outright tanking efforts in years.

elsewhere, Golden State Warriors expect Stephen Curry To return on sunday against Houston Rockets After missing 27 games due to a right knee injury; Los Angeles Lakers That superstar was announced on Friday luka doncic Desire miss the rest of the regular season With hamstring injury; and this kawhi leonard–Akanksha’s investigation is ongoing There is no end in sight. Commissioner Adam Silver did not address the investigation at last week’s Board of Governors meeting.

That’s what our insiders are hearing from their sources across the league.

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3 April

Lakers star Luka Doncic is out indefinitely with a Grade 2 right hamstring injury, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin. Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular season, and his availability for the playoffs is uncertain.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Lakers’ odds to win the title dropped from 30-1 to 100-1 20 minutes after the news broke.

Doncic, who has played 64 games and is ranked fourth ESPN’s latest MVP straw pollAccording to his agent Bill Duffy, Will applied for what he called “the challenge of extraordinary circumstances” for the 65-game rule to be considered for the award.

Statement from Luka Doncic’s agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball: “This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, leading the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself firmly among the … https://t.co/bKVOmzheDE

– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 3 April 2026

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Doncic can apply for an exception to the two games he missed due to the birth of his daughter in December. Applications must be made no later than 12:00 pm ET on the last day of the regular season and no later than 11:59 pm ET the day after the last day of the regular season.

Doncic signed a three-year extension last August and has been named All-NBA in five of the last six seasons.

If the application is rejected there will be no financial impact on his next contract.

Although the Lakers have not given a timeline for his return, Grade 2 hamstring injuries typically require a month of recovery. Doncic is averaging a league-high 33.5 points this season, along with 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists.

The Lakers, who have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, are in third place in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the No. 4-seed denver nuggets2.5 games ahead of the 5th seed Houston Rockets and 3.5 ahead of the No. 6-seed minnesota timberwolves.

Maxi reaches important milestone

Reaching the 65-game norm There could be significant financial implications for postseason honors. philadelphia 76ers guard tyreese maxi.

In the scenario Maxi is named All-NBA this season, he would become eligible to sign a four-year, $300 million supermax extension in the 2027 offseason. The first year of expansion will begin in 2029-30.

A player with seven or eight years of NBA service is supermax eligible if he has been named All-NBA in the immediately preceding season or two of the immediately preceding three seasons. Maxey ranks fourth in the league in points per game (28.8) and third in total clutch points. –Bobby Marks

2 April

An investigation into an alleged deal between the LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and Co. Aspiration is ongoing, sources tell ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.

“The investigation into Wachtel remains ongoing,” an NBA spokesperson said. “There is still work to do and no deadline.”

In September of 2025, news broke that the Clippers were being investigated over allegations that a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and the Aspirations constituted salary cap manipulation. Owner Steve Ballmer has denied the allegations.

ESPN’s Jeremy Wu and Tim Bontemps spoke to executives from across the league about the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, including who they believe will be taken with the first overall pick, what concerns the front office has about prospects and the best fit.

“I think this draft, in some ways, is similar to [2024 Zaccharie] Rescher year, but at a higher level,” he said. “That year it was like, ‘Is anyone going to be really good?’ This year, it’s like, ‘Okay, there’s a lot of people.’ You’re pretty sure at least some of them will be really, really good. You’re not really sure which ones.

“You don’t want to end up with the fifth-best player by drafting at No. 1.”

The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on June 25 and 26 before the draft on May 10.

31st March

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Dave McMenamin break down six possible paths LeBron James could go this offseason, including staying with the Los Angeles Lakers, returning home to Cleveland and landing with some surprising wildcard teams around the league.

27 March

In their weekly Intel file, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst spoke to coaches, front offices and scouts to assess the growing hype surrounding the San Antonio Spurs’ playoff run.

“They’re my favorite now,” the scout told ESPN. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. His play is going to be even more impressive in the playoffs and he’s going to be on your mind even more every game. In Game 1, your guys will be thinking about him on some of their shots. By Game 4, they’ll be having absolute nightmares.”

The Spurs are currently two games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference.

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