Black Waitress is fired for helping Michael Jordan next day she gets the shock of her life
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The Waitress Who Changed Everything
Kindness costs nothing, but for Chenise Williams, it cost her everything—or so she thought. On a quiet night in Charlotte, North Carolina, this hardworking single mother made a choice that would alter her life forever.
It was nearly midnight at Jerry’s Diner, and Chenise’s feet ached after a ten-hour shift. As she refilled the sugar dispensers, she thought about her eight-year-old daughter, Destiny, and her dream of attending basketball camp. The $500 fee was a steep price, but Chenise was determined to make it happen, even if it meant working double shifts for weeks.
Just as she was wrapping up for the night, the bell above the door jingled. A tall man in a baseball cap and dark jacket stepped inside, his tired eyes scanning the nearly empty diner. The kitchen had closed early, as per her manager Brad’s strict rules, but something about the man’s presence made Chenise hesitate.
“Come on in,” she said, grabbing a menu. “If you order quickly, I can still get you something before we close.”
The man smiled, gratitude evident in his warm gaze. “Thank you,” he said. “I just needed a quiet place to eat and think.”
As he settled into a booth, Chenise took his order—a simple coffee and her recommended dish, chicken and waffles. The man chuckled at her enthusiasm as she spoke of her daughter’s love for the meal. When she took a closer look, a flicker of recognition sparked within her. But she said nothing, treating him as she would any other late-night customer.
When the food arrived, he ate slowly, savoring each bite. As he finished, he placed several bills on the table. Chenise’s eyes widened when she realized it was five $100 bills—enough to send Destiny to camp. Tears threatened to spill over, but she held them back, locking up the diner with a lighter heart than she had in months.
The next morning, however, reality hit hard. Brad summoned her to his office, pointing to the security footage. “You know the rules, Chenise. No customers after 11:30. This is the last straw. I’m going to need your apron and name tag.”
Her voice trembled. “You’re firing me? Over helping someone who just needed a meal?”
“Rules are rules.”
Heartbroken, she left the diner, uncertain about her future. But just as she reached her car, her phone rang. “Ms. Williams?” a professional voice asked. “I’m calling on behalf of Mr. Michael Jordan. He would like to meet with you this morning at the Charlotte Hornets’ office.”
Chenise nearly dropped her phone. Michael Jordan? The customer from last night?
Still reeling, she arrived at the towering office building, her nerves tingling with anticipation. She was escorted to a conference room, where Michael Jordan himself greeted her with a smile.
“I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t let on that I recognized you last night,” she said hesitantly.
“That’s exactly what I wanted,” he replied. “To see how I’d be treated as just another customer.”
He explained that he had been quietly observing various businesses in the community, looking for someone with true compassion. “I need someone special to run a new youth program for my foundation,” he said. “Someone like you.”
Chenise blinked in disbelief. “Me? But I don’t have a college degree. I’ve never run a foundation.”
“You’re exactly what we need,” he assured her. “Someone who does the right thing even when no one’s watching.”
He handed her a folder. Inside was a contract—Director of Community Outreach. The salary was more than double what she had earned at both jobs, complete with health insurance and free admission to all youth basketball programs—including Destiny’s.
She sat in stunned silence, tears welling up. “Why me?”
“Because you chose kindness over rules,” Jordan said simply. “And that’s the kind of person we need.”
Chenise accepted the job, her heart pounding with excitement and disbelief. But her journey was just beginning. Three months later, as she reviewed scholarship applications for underprivileged kids, a troubling email popped up—urgent financial audit review. Her hands shook as she read it. The foundation’s accounts showed discrepancies—large sums of money shifting between accounts without explanation.
She took a deep breath and dialed Jordan’s number. “Sir, we need to talk. It’s about the foundation’s finances.”
“Come to my office.”
As she walked into his office, she steadied herself. “I found some irregularities in the accounts,” she began, her voice strong despite her nerves. “I had to tell you right away.”
Jordan studied her for a long moment before smiling. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
She frowned in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“There are no missing funds, Chenise. This was your final test.”
“A test?”
“The foundation’s integrity matters as much as its impact,” he explained. “We needed to be sure you’d protect it—even if it meant risking everything.”
He slid a new contract toward her. Executive Director.
Stunned, she whispered, “But what about the current director?”
“They’re retiring. We’ve been preparing you for this all along.”
Through the window, she saw Destiny training with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. Jordan followed her gaze. “Your daughter’s got talent. Now she’ll have the training to match it.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” he replied with a grin.
Months later, at the grand opening of a new youth center—formerly Jerry’s Diner—Chenise stood on stage, her daughter beside her. The once-bustling eatery was now a vibrant space where kids trained, learned, and chased their dreams.
“Dreams come in all sizes,” she told the crowd. “Sometimes they look like making a game-winning shot. Sometimes they look like serving a late-night customer. But the biggest dreams? They’re the ones we help others achieve.”
As she locked eyes with Jordan in the crowd, she smiled. She had thought losing her job was the end of everything. Instead, it had been the beginning of something far greater—not just for her, but for an entire community.
Because sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness change everything.
See More: Predictions for Every NBA Team After 2025 Trade Deadline
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Everyone caught their breath from the trade deadline yet? Good, because we’ve got a wild few months left in this unpredictable NBA season.
Can the San Antonio Spurs ride De’Aaron Fox back into the West playoff picture? What about Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors? What will a Luka Dončić and LeBron James-led offense look like, and will Dallas Mavericks fans (understandably) continue to riot outside of every home game?
With just over two months left in the regular season, it’s time to make some predictions for all 30 NBA teams post-trade deadline.
Atlanta Hawks: This Is Trae Young’s Last Run with the Franchise
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Trading away De’Andre Hunter, who was having the best season of his career and was under contract for two additional years wasn’t exactly a win-now move for a Hawks team that needs to be wary of Trae Young’s happiness.
“That guy is a fierce competitor. He wants to win.” Chris Haynes reported on NBA TV following the trade deadline. “The direction of the Hawks is very, I would say very unique considering where he stands and what he wants to accomplish.”
Consider this a polite way of Haynes saying Young isn’t happy with Atlanta’s lack of additions at the deadline.
Young can choose to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Don’t be surprised if he pushes for a trade this summer, something the Hawks will be forced to do instead of losing him for nothing.
Boston Celtics: Sleepwalk to the No. 2 Seed
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At 37-16 overall, the Boston Celtics are having a really good year and only rank behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers in total victories during the 2024-25 season.
Still, this team has been pretty mediocre over the last month-and-a-half, a streak that will continue all the way to the postseason.
Since Dec. 18, the Celtics are just 15-11 overall, a record tied with the Portland Trail Blazers and slightly worse than the Detroit Pistons (15-10).
Boston isn’t the first team to win a championship and turn on cruise control during the following regular season and it certainly won’t be the last. Keeping its place as the No. 2 seed in the East above the New York Knicks will provide a little motivation, but this is a veteran-heavy team that is saving itself for the playoffs.
The Celtics will hold on to their spot in the East standings, although it won’t always be pretty.
Brooklyn Nets: Lots of ‘Injury Management’ Days
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Winners of four of their past five games, the Brooklyn Nets have been a little too good lately.
After all, this franchise didn’t give up a valuable 2027 unprotected Phoenix Suns first-round pick for nothing. They did so to get the rights back to their own 2025 and 2026 selections from the Houston Rockets for the sole purpose of being able to tank and land some elite talent in the next few drafts.
This is why not trading Cameron Johnson at the deadline (whose value has never been higher) is a complete head-scratcher. The Nets should be trying their best to lose games this season, yet they have instead knocked off teams like the Rockets (twice) and Miami Heat over the last two weeks.
Expect to see a lot of “injury management” games coming down the stretch for veterans such as Johnson, D’Angelo Russell, Nic Claxton and others as this team prioritizes a top pick.
Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball’s Patience Is Tested
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It was weird that we didn’t hear LaMelo Ball’s name pop up in trade talks near the trade deadline with the Charlotte Hornets again plummeting towards the bottom of the East.
Since the Hornets drafted Ball in 2020, only four franchises have a worse collective record than Charlotte’s 137-230 (37.3 percent) mark. Two of those teams (Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons) are back in the playoff standings this year while a third (San Antonio Spurs) have since drafted a generational prospect. The Washington Wizards continue to be terrible.
This may be the Hornets’ last chance to prove to Ball that this franchise is headed in some sort of direction, which will be tough to do with Brandon Miller (wrist surgery) out for the season.
Ball will be on plenty of “guessing the next star player to be traded” lists that inevitably pop up. Consider the next few months to be a recruiting period for Charlotte.
Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis Breakout Begins
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It’s probably too late for Matas Buzelis to make a run at Rookie of the Year, although the 6’10” forward is going to enjoy a terrific second half with a new-look Chicago Bulls team.
The 20-year-old has experienced an uptick in minutes as of late and is averaging 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 62.8 percent overall and 47.6 percent from three over his last five games.
Trading Zach LaVine not only gives Chicago a lot more financial flexibility, but it also opens up a bigger role for Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 draft.
A perfect 10-for-10 night against the Miami Heat showcased his all-around game, including his play as an isolation scorer, cutter and open shooter. The breakout is coming for Buzelis, who has all the physical tools to become a star.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Finish with Best Offense in NBA History
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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ offense has been rocking this season. With new addition De’Andre Hunter, their scoring attack will soar to record levels.
Even before trading for Hunter and his 19.0 points per game on 39.3 percent shooting from three, Cleveland’s offensive rating of 122.4 ranked first in the NBA this season and second in league history only behind the 2023-24 Boston Celtics (123.2).
In addition to their three All-Stars in Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the Cavs have inserted Max Strus back into the starting lineup after an ankle injury wiped out his first 27 games of the season. He’s finally rounding into form, with averages of 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a 44.8 percent mark from three over his last five contests.
Plugging Hunter into this rotation will allow Cleveland to leap over Boston’s record-setting offense from a season ago.
Dallas Mavericks: Survive in Regular Season, Die in the Playoffs
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Following the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis swap, the Dallas Mavericks improved their floor but collapsed the franchise’s ceiling.
This is a very deep team overall, which is great considering Davis is already expected miss multiple weeks with a left adductor strain according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. A healthy starting five of Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Davis and Daniel Gafford with Lively, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dante Exum, Jaden Hardy and others can beat teams up physically while reaching deep into its bench.
Of course, when playoff rotations inevitably shrink and you just traded away the player with the second-highest scoring average in NBA postseason history, the Mavs lose a bit of their advantage.
Dallas could climb back into the top-six spots in the West and even flirt with home-court advantage in the first round. But trading away Dončić (30.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.7 steals in 50 career playoff games before age 26) and relying on two players (Davis and Irving) who have only won championships as No. 2 options will ultimately lead to a first-round exit for these Mavs.
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokić Wins 4th MVP
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If the NBA season ended today, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would probably win his first MVP.
OKC has the best record in the NBA at 41-9 overall with Gilgeous-Alexander averaging an NBA-high 32.7 points per game.
So why pick Nikola Jokić to end up as the most valuable player instead? The answer lies in another Thunder player.
The return of Chet Holmgren is inevitably going to mean a drop in production from Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s been called on to carry a humongous offensive load with the 7’1″ center sidelined since mid-November.
In games Holmgren has missed, the 26-year-old is averaging a staggering 34.6 points per game. With his running mate, however, SGA’s scoring drops to 26.0 per contest.
With Jokić putting up the best numbers of his extraordinary career (29.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 46.2 percent from three) and the Nuggets up to No. 3 in the West and rising, expect Joker to win his fourth MVP award.
Detroit Pistons: Finish Above .500 for First Time Since 2015-16
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At 27-26 this season, the Detroit Pistons have been perfectly mediocre. For a franchise that has registered the worst win percentage over the last decade, though, this is a major accomplishment.
The young Pistons haven’t finished above .500 since the 2025-16 season, when a core of Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and (current forward) Tobias Harris went 44-38 overall. Cade Cunningham, now an All-Star and quickly becoming one of the best guards in the league, was just 14 at the time.
The Pistons have the eighth-easiest remaining schedule in the NBA moving forward, with six games left against the four worst teams in the league (Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets).
Cunningham is putting up 29.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.2 steals over his last 11 games, powering Detroit towards its best season since he was in middle school.
Golden State Warriors: Jimmy Butler Trade Will Look Good…this Year
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Hovering around .500 and in danger of missing the playoffs for the second-straight season, the Golden State Warriors made the wise move of trading for Jimmy Butler, one of the biggest names on the market.
Adding Butler to a core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield and others should be enough to get the Warriors back into the play-in tournament, if not a top-six seed overall.
The issues with this trade will come the following seasons, given the two-year, $112.6 million extension Butler signed.
In 2025-26, a 37-year-old Curry and 36-year-old Butler will make a combined $113.7 million, or 73.5 percent of the estimated salary cap. The following season, a 38-year-old Curry and 37-year-old Butler will be owed $121.1 million.
If we could shave a decade off the clock, these two might be worth taking up nearly three-quarters of the cap. For a duo quickly nearing the end of their careers, this could get ugly really fast.
Houston Rockets: Slide into the Play-in Tournament
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Losers of six of their past seven games, the Houston Rockets are going through a rough patch of the season and are now without starting point guard Fred VanVleet who’s listed as week-to-week with an ankle injury.
The Rockets are 30-15 when VanVleet plays this season yet have gone just 3-5 when their veteran floor general sits. Jabari Smith Jr. remains out until at least the All-Star break.
Just three-and-a-half games separate Houston from the play-in tournament, with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks all within striking distance.
The Rockets chose to stay quiet at the trade deadline instead of pursuing a star or any notable veteran talent. With injuries mounting, this may have been the wrong choice.
Indiana Pacers: A Healthy Core Gets Home-Court Advantage
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The Indiana Pacers have been frustratingly inconsistent this season, although when healthy, this core has proved to be quite dangerous.
A starting five of Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Ben Mathurin, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner has a net rating of plus-12.2 rating this season (70th percentile, via Cleaning the Glass). The next two highest-used lineups have net ratings of minus-4.9 and minus-5.8, respectively, meaning the Pacers essentially need all their main guys to have a chance at keeping pace in the East.
At 29-22 overall, the Pacers have risen to the fourth seed and the final home-court advantage spot. With the Orlando Magic struggling and Milwaukee Bucks now without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a calf injury, Indiana should remain in this position for now.
If healthy, expect the Pacers to keep their spot at No. 4 in the East.
Los Angles Clippers: Ty Lue Revives Ben Simmons’ Career
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Ben Simmons’ career with the Brooklyn Nets was an absolute failure, as the former All-Star played just 90 total games in three-and-a-half seasons while averaging 6.5 points per game.
After agreeing to a buyout and now signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, we should see a resurgence of sorts from the 28-year-old under the care of head coach Tyronn Lue.
Simmons chose the Clippers over the Cleveland Cavaliers, presumably because of a planned role for his talents before he hits unrestricted free agency this summer. Lue should get the most out of his passing, rebounding and defense while surrounding him with shooters when on the floor.
For a Clippers team that ranks just 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.54) and 25th in assist percentage (60.5 percent), Simmons and Los Angeles should actually go quite well together, especially thanks to Lue.
Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James Brings Out Best in Luka Dončić
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After the initial shock of being traded finally wears off, Luka Dončić will realize a move to the Los Angeles Lakers and being around LeBron James will be the best thing that could have happened to his career.
Combining Dončić’s generational talent with James’ work ethic, diet, conditioning, film room breakdowns and everything that’s made him this good even at age 40 will only bring out the best in the 25-year-old.
There probably aren’t too many players in the world who have earned Dončić’s respect enough to tell him what to do. James should, and likely is, on that list.
Bringing out the best in the Slovenian should be a personal challenge for James as well, especially as the two seek to win a championship together.
The final results of this partnership could take years, although we should see a slightly slimmed-down Dončić dominate down the stretch and into the postseason.
Memphis Grizzlies: Finally Get Some Respect
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The Memphis Grizzlies have bounced back from a 27-55 record a year ago to begin this season 35-17, the fourth-best mark in the entire NBA.
So, why is no one outside of West Tennessee talking about them?
The Grizzlies have an All-Star in Jaren Jackson Jr., one of the league’s most exciting talents in Ja Morant, the biggest rookie surprise with Jaylen Wells, and the most popular college player from a season ago in Zach Edey.
We can’t ignore Memphis much longer, a team that’s become elite on both ends of the ball. The final few months will help earn the Grizz some much-deserved respect as they claim the No. 2 seed in a loaded West.
Miami Heat: Kel’el Ware Makes Late Run at Rookie of the Year
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Amid all the chaos in Miami this season, the Heat have gotten a terrific rookie season out of Kel’el Ware, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
Now inserted as a full-time starter over the past nine games, the 20-year-old is averaging a double-double with 11.8 points, 10.7 assists and 1.1 blocks on 39.3 percent shooting from three.
When pairing Ware and Bam Adebayo on the court together, the Heat have a stingy defensive rating of 100.9, ranking in the 99th percentile via Cleaning the Glass.
With a Rookie of the Year race still open, expect Ware to make a late push for the award now that he’s a member of the starting five.
Milwaukee Bucks: Kyle Kuzma Isn’t Enough to Make a Title Run
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Trading Khris Middleton in a deadline deal for Kyle Kuzma helped the Milwaukee Bucks get younger and little more athletic, although it was also a financially-motivated deal that got the franchise back under the second apron.
Kuzma, 29, is a solid starter and will be a welcomed third scoring option alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. It was a little disappointing that the Bucks didn’t pursue a bigger star, someone like Jimmy Butler who would have made a far greater impact on this team’s title chances.
At 28-23 overall, the Bucks still seem like what their record would indicate; a good but not great team that likely won’t win more than one round in the playoffs, if that.
The trade for Kuzma was fine, but Milwaukee will end up wishing it had done more at the deadline.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham Helps Save the Season
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With injuries to key players such as Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, the Minnesota Timberwolves need offensive help from wherever they can get it.
Anthony Edwards has stepped up his game recently (33.9 points, 6.0 assists over his last seven contests), but he needs other role players in Minnesota to help as well.
Enter Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 overall pick in the draft who’s been in and out of the Wolves’ rotation this season.
The 20-year-old has looked more comfortable as of late, though, even earning his first career start in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Over his last 13 games, he is averaging 8.2 points and 3.4 assists on 37.1 percent shooting from three in just 16.2 minutes.
An Edwards-Dillingham backcourt is going to provide a lot of fireworks over the next few years, a show that will pick up dramatically as this season goes along.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson Plays His Last Games with the Franchise
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Part of what made the New Orleans Pelicans comfortable with trading All-Star big man Anthony Davis in 2019 was knowing another elite young talent was coming when the team won the No. 1 overall pick.
We’ll see history repeat itself this May, as the Pelicans look poised to take home another top pick (currently tied with the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz for the best overall odds) and finally decide to move on from Zion Williamson.
The two-time All-Star was the right pick at the time, yet he hasn’t shown the ability to stay healthy and shouldn’t be relied on by a New Orleans team that’s been hammered by injuries this season.
After trading Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors, it’s time the Pels move Williamson this summer and build around their 2025 pick, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Yves Missi and others.
New York Knicks: Big Lineups Are Unleashed
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Karl-Anthony Towns has thrived in a return to center this season. Voted in as an All-Star starter, the 29-year-old may see more time at power forward down the stretch once center Mitchell Robinson is cleared to return from ankle surgery.
“Just a tall lineup, and it’s gonna be exciting to kind of explore that lineup,” Towns said about the possible configuration via Peter Botte of the New York Post. “It should give me … I have some familiarity with it with Rudy, so it’ll be something that I’ll tap into that kind of potential well.”
Starting power forward OG Anunoby has missed time with a foot injury recently, making it more likely the Knicks will explore big lineups with Towns at the four and Robinson manning the five.
Now is the time to experiment and tinker, looking at various lineups in preparation for different opponents during the postseason. Expect to see some big lineups with Towns and Robinson moving forward.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Break Franchise Win Record
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The Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics have won 60-plus games in a season just four times in their 58-year history. The 1995-96 Sonics set the franchise record with 64 victories, a team fueled by Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.
This year, history will be made again.
OKC is an NBA-best 42-9 to begin the season, putting them on a 67-to-68 win pace. The team will likely rest some starters near the end of the regular season, especially with a current 7.5-game lead over the second-place Memphis Grizzlies, but it should still comfortably reach 65 victories overall.
Chet Holmgren is back from a months-long hip injury, adding an elite rim protector to a defense that already ranks No. 1 in the NBA.
Don’t expect the Thunder to take their foot off the gas for the remainder of the regular season.
Orlando Magic: Regret Not Trading for a True Point Guard
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Despite Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner back and healthy for the Orlando Magic, this team is still struggling to generate any sort of scoring attack.
Orlando ranks next to last in the NBA in offense (107.2 rating), choosing not to make any moves at the trade deadline to address this issue.
This team was in dire need of a true playmaking guard and should have made a real run at guys like De’Aaron Fox, Trae Young or LaMelo Ball. Even with Banchero and Wagner on the floor together this season, the Magic’s offensive rating (105.8 rating) ranks in just the 9th percentile via Cleaning the Glass.
Orlando’s recent slide has them below .500 after such a promising 2023-24 season. Not trading for a point guard at the deadline will prove to be a huge mistake.
Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey Carries Them to a Playoff Berth
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It’s been a nightmare of a season for the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that is sitting in the bottom-five seeds in the East and owes the projected No. 7 overall pick in the draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It’s time for Tyrese Maxey to come to the rescue.
Despite all of their injury woes, the 20-32 Sixers sit just one-and-a-half games out of the East play-in picture. They’ll likely need to jump either the Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks to climb out of the basement, two teams that just traded away key pieces in Zach LaVine and De’Andre Hunter, respectively.
Maxey is having a monster season, averaging a career-high 28.1 points per game to go along with 3.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals a night.
With Joel Embiid likely needing another knee surgery and Paul George having a down year, both the present and future revolve around Maxey. He’ll deliver for Philly this season, dragging this injury-plagued bunch to the play-in and eventually a seventh or eighth seed in the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns: Kevin Durant Plays His Final Games with the Franchise
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There was some surprising trade buzz surrounding Kevin Durant at the deadline, a player the Phoenix Suns gave up a ransom for just two years earlier.
While the Suns chose to keep the 36-year-old despite the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat showing interest, expect Phoenix to trade him this season.
“He was not happy he was put into trade talks,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast. “I think it’s unpredictable what will happen for the next few months because it’s the nature of the sport, but I think right now it is reasonable to forecast that Durant will be breaking up with the Suns in the summer. He didn’t break up with them today, but it doesn’t look for the long-term forecast because he was really frustrated.”
The 15-time All-Star has just one year and $54.7 million remaining on his contract and won’t want to re-sign in Phoenix if he no longer trusts the organization.
After the Suns inevitably lose in the first round (if they make it that far), Durant will be gone.
Portland Trail Blazers: Make a Late-Season Run at the Play-in Tournament
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Over the last dozen games, no team has been hotter than…the Portland Trail Blazers??
A 10-2 record stands alone, as the Blazers have put together the NBA’s best defense over this stretch (105.3 rating) and chose to hold on to their veterans at the trade deadline.
Whether this was the best long-term strategy for the franchise is up for debate, although a 23-30 overall record has Portland just 3.5 games out of the West play-in tournament.
We could see a similar run to what the Houston Rockets did last season, as they finished the 2023-24 season on a 16-7 run to climb back to .500.
Portland has a nice blend of young and veteran talent. If it can defend like this, a play-in spot isn’t out of the question.
Sacramento Kings: Finish as Bottom-5 Seed in the West
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You have to feel bad for the Sacramento Kings, who were clearly pressured to trade De’Aaron Fox.
Choosing to bring on Zach LaVine and his hefty contract while not getting another point guard in return has left this roster a jumbled mess of combo guards and shoot-first wings who don’t care much for the defensive end of the ball, however.
In LaVine’s debut, the Kings gave up 130 points to the Orlando Magic, the team with the second-worst offense in the NBA only behind the nine-win Washington Wizards.
Sacramento is locked in a tight race with the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns for the Nos. 9, 10 and 11 seeds in the West, with only two able to make the play-in tournament.
With the Warriors adding Jimmy Butler and the Suns having previously traded for Nick Richards and now adding Cody Martin and Vasilije Micić at the deadline, it’s the Kings who will ultimately fall all the way out of the playoff picture.
San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle Wins Rookie of the Year
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Despite a move to the bench following the team’s trade for De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs freshman Stephon Castle will still take home Rookie of the Year.
With Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain out for the season following knee surgery, Castle is now the NBA’s leading scorer (12.7 points per game) among all first-year players. The 20-year-old is also putting up 2.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.8 steals in his 25.7 minutes.
In three games off the bench since the team traded for Fox, Castle is averaging 19.7 points in a sixth man role, including a 33-point outburst against the Charlotte Hornets. He’ll continue to destroy other team’s second units with his athleticism and size.
In what’s been a predictably weak draft class overall, Castle will hold off players like Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, Kel’el Ware, Yves Missi and others for top rookie honors.
Toronto Raptors: Win Too Many Games to Get a Top-5 Pick
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Injuries have derailed what could have been a playoff season for the Toronto Raptors. Now with a 16-37 record, the goal should be to make a run at the No. 1 overall pick, something the Raptors will now be too good to do once newly-acquired Brandon Ingram makes his debut.
Trading for the 27-year-old, especially since it meant giving up a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected via Indiana Pacers) was a confusing move by Toronto, a team that will now have to pay Ingram a hefty amount in free agency this summer.
The Raptors also have the easiest remaining schedule of any NBA team, with seven games left against the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets.
In the end, Toronto will be a little too good to land a top-five pick and one of the elite talents in the 2025 draft.
Utah Jazz: Isaiah Collier Looks Like the Steal of 2024 Draft
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We assumed heading into the season that Keyonte George would run away with the Utah Jazz’s starting point guard role and that No. 10 overall pick Cody Williams would be the team’s most impressive rookie.
Isaiah Collier, the No. 29 overall pick, obviously had other plans.
Now starting in place of George, Collier has been extremely impressive as a playmaker and scorer around the rim. Over his last nine games (all starts), the 20-year-old is averaging 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 49.5 percent overall. His 5.6 assists per game for the season rank first by a wide margin among all rookies.
For a player who nearly fell to the second round, Collier has already joined Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells as the steals of the draft and should enjoy a strong final two months of the season.
Washington Wizards: Secure Best Odds at the No. 1 Pick
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At 9-43 overall, the Washington Wizards are well on their way to securing the best chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. Trading Kyle Kuzma at the deadline will only help their efforts, although they brought some other veterans in to replace him.
The Wizards will face some stiff competition for a bottom-three seed and a 14 percent chance at the top pick, especially from franchises like the New Orleans Pelicans (12-40), Utah Jazz (12-39) and Charlotte Hornets (13-36). One team will inevitably be a little too good, dropping their odds at getting the No. 1 overall selection slightly to 12.5 percent.
The Wizards will make sure this won’t happen to them.
Whether it be sending players like Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon on an early summer break or playing its rookies 40-plus minutes a night, landing an elite talent in the draft is the primary focus for Washington at this point.
