JJ Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassell have emerged as the initial leading candidates for the Los Angeles Lakers' head coaching search, sources tell Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic. 

The Lakers are looking for a coach that is equipped to both guide the end of LeBron James' career while also remaining in place with Anthony Davis.

“This should be more of a hire about AD than LeBron,” said one source.

The Lakers want a coach who can command the locker room as well as gameplan and provide a level of organization and structure.

Mike Krzyzewski has become an unofficial resource for the Lakers during this search. 

Other candidates includeKenny Atkinson, David Adelman, Micah Nori and Chris Quinn.

Friday night's Game 3 between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves averaged 5.21 million viewers on ESPN.

The number is up 10% from the Nuggets-Suns matchup last year and is the fourth most-watched game of the playoffs.

The Nuggets have played in four out of the six most-watched games in the playoffs.

Mike Krzyzewski has been an unofficial resource for the Los Angeles Lakers during their head coaching search, sources tell The Athletic.

Krzyzewski nearly joined the Lakers as head coach in 2004 on a five-year, $40 million contract.

J.J. Redick, who played at Duke under Krzyzewski, is one of the candidates being considered by the Lakers.

Rudy Gobert has been fined $75,000 for making an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture that questions the integrity of the league and its game officials, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.  The fine takes into account Gobert’s history of improper conduct toward game officials.

Gobert’s actions took place during the Timberwolves’ 115-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their conference semifinals playoff series on May 12 at Target Center.

Rob Pelinka is reportedly looking for the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers to have the characteristic of a "grinder," sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

With the Lakers expected to begin contacting coaching candidates in the coming days, James Borrego and JJ Redick are two prominent candidates for the role. 

The Lakers are also expected to interview Heat assistant Chris Quinn.

Mitchell Robinson underwent surgery on his left ankle on Monday, sources told Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

It is the second surgery on his ankle this season.

Robinson re-injured his ankle in the first-round series against the Sixers.

He will be re-evaluated in 6-8 weeks. 

Nikola Topic, a potential top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, suffered a left knee injury on Monday. Topic was injured on a non-contact play after an awkward landing following making a pass. An MRI showed Topic suffered a sprained knee.

Topic is expected to miss the remainder of the ABA Finals due to the injury. Topic is expected to be a full participant in workouts in June, ahead of the draft.

The 6-foot-6 point guard was injured in Game 1 of the Adriatic League finals. Topic had returned to Crvena Zvezda after spending the early part of the season playing for Mega Bemax.

Topic is considered a top-five pick by most draft experts. Some even have him in consideration to go as high as the second pick. The 18-year-old missed four-and-a-half months earlier this season with an injury to same knee he injured on Monday.

Donovan Mitchell has been ruled out by the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics with a left calf strain.

The Cavaliers enter the game trailing the Celtics 2-1 in the series. 

In 10 games this postseason, Mitchell is averaging 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Cavaliers. 

OG Anunoby has been ruled out of Game 5 with a hamstring strain.

Anunoby suffered the injury in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals and missed Games 3 and 4.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Anunoby is only running in the pool and receiving treatment three times per day currently.

The Atlanta Hawks won the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, moving from the tenth overall pick up to the first overall pick. That gives the Hawks and GM Landry Fields a lot of options moving forward.

One of those options is pursuing trades for Trae Young. Atlanta had been involved in trade talks involving Dejounte Murray leading up to the trade deadline but may now turn to trading Young instead.

Young is owed nearly $138 million over the next three seasons. The Hawks could net a hefty return in a trade for Young, while significantly clearing up their cap sheet moving forward. They could then build around the first overall pick, Murray and other young talent on the roster.