Rival NBA executives view the Oklahoma City Thunder as a long shot to trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, The Ringer’s Zach Lowe reported Thursday.
Lowe reported around the 1:02:00 mark of Thursday’s Zach Lowe Show that “no one around the league sees [the Thunder] as the Giannis team.”
“Everybody, every GM, every scout I’ve talked to, would be pretty surprised if they veered in that direction,” Lowe reported.
Antetokounmpo is set to play on a cap hit of just under $58.5 million next season. Taking on that deal would necessitate major roster shuffling for the Thunder, which is already one of just two NBA teams over the second apron this season, per Spotrac.
Lowe reported the Thunder are instead expected to reduce their payroll while keeping in place “most of the core” including Isaiah Hartenstein, who has a pending club option for next season.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti could be looking at moving picks rather than players in order to trade up in the 2026 NBA draft, in which he currently controls the No. 12, No. 17 and No. 37 selections.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon reported Tuesday the Thunder have already held “exploratory discussions with teams in the top 10 about what it could take to move up.”
The Thunder aren’t the only team to have recently been ruled out as favorites to acquire Antetokounmpo by NBA insiders.
ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reported the New York Knicks are likely out of the running after making the NBA Finals without Antetokounmpo.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Eric Nehm described the Portland Trail Blazers as an “unlikely” landing spot due to Antetokounmpo’s reported preference for playing in the East.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Austin Reaves, who can decline his player option to become a free agent this offseason, is expected to want the max, per Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times on Spectrum Sportsnet Live.
“He stands to make five years, $241 million if they offer him that deal. Or if he goes to a team like the Chicago Bulls, or a team like Brooklyn, he can get four years, $178 million. Those teams will kind of lurk around.
“But based on what I understand, what I keep hearing: Austin wants the max. Is he willing to give the Lakers a hometown deal? I’m not so sure about that. Maybe he does, but maybe his reps don’t want that.”
Reaves averaged 23.3 points on 49.0 percent shooting, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games last season. A strained left calf and a Grade 2 left oblique strain forced him to miss time.
Still, the 28-year-old showcased that he’s worthy of a lucrative new deal. The question is whether the Lakers give him the max or he gets a huge contract elsewhere. One can guess that could very well happen given his impressive production.
Ultimately, the Lakers have a host of questions this summer outside Reaves. For starters, four-time NBA MVP and 23-year veteran LeBron James is an impending free agent. Center Deandre Ayton has a player option and could be out of town as well.
Ayton’s departure in particular could be a tough loss, leading the Lakers on the search for another starting center. They could have some options, though, as Spectrum SportsNet relayed.
L.A. went 53-29 last year and made the second round of the playoffs before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers, of note, were without the NBA’s leading scorer, Luka Dončić, in the playoffs as he recovered from a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
They certainly have playoff potential with Dončić back in the mix next year, but the rest of the roster features a murkier picture right now.
After months of speculation, wide receiver A.J. Brown was finally traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots on Monday. The deal returned a 2028 first-round pick and 2027 fifth-rounder to Philly, while reuniting Brown with Mike Vrabel, his head coach in Tennessee from 2019 to 2021. Most importantly for New England, it landed Drake Maye a true No. 1 receiver as the third-year quarterback and the Pats pursue a return to the Super Bowl.
In the immediate aftermath of a trade of this magnitude, there are always initial winners and losers. Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to look at an analytical breakdown of how Brown fits into the Patriots’ offense and what to expect from him statistically in 2026. Will he bounce back from a somewhat-disappointing 2025 season? Can he return to the Pro Bowl status he experienced early on in Philadelphia? Is he poised to enjoy a career year in his new digs?
Let’s dive into the data, informed by Next Gen Stats insights on NFL Pro, which can be accessed with an NFL+ Premium subscription.
Fit on the depth chart
The most obvious impact of Brown’s arrival in Foxborough, on paper, is his immediate ascension to the top spot in the Patriots’ wide receiver room. Stefon Diggs held that position last year, leading the team in targets (102), catches (85) and receiving yards (1,013), while drawing a 21.2% target share. The counting numbers are decent, but the target share really stands out as an anomaly. Last season, the target-share leader on 20 of 32 teams logged a higher mark than Diggs’, while standout WR1s like Jaxon Smith-Njigba (35.8%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (31.3%) and Ja’Marr Chase (30.4%) were several tiers higher. And I don’t believe this was an intentional “spread the ball” approach from Josh McDaniels — in seven of McDaniels’ 10 prior seasons as New England’s offensive coordinator with available target data, his top target eclipsed Diggs’ 2025 share.
Additionally, Diggs only scored four touchdowns last year. Over the past five seasons, the average for receivers with a target share over 20% was just under seven TDs, and we saw Jakobi Meyers score eight with a 20.0% share in McDaniels’ 2023 Raiders offense. How does Brown fit into this picture? For starters, he has topped a 23% target share in four straight seasons (with a high-water mark of 30.1% for the 2023 Eagles). Only one other player — St. Brown — has done that in each of the last four years. Brown has also scored at least seven touchdowns every year of his career except 2021, when he played just 13 games (and still scored five).
Prior to this trade, New England was set to enter 2026 with Romeo Doubs atop the WR depth chart, after signing him to a four-year, $68 million contract in March. Doubs’ career-high target share is 18.5% (last year) and his career average in Green Bay was 15.8%. He’s a solid WR2, but the Patriots needed a No. 1. Now they have one.
Fit in the offensive scheme
Along with the role he’ll fill as Maye’s go-to guy, Brown is also a fine fit for New England’s offense schematically. Last year, Maye threw downfield — passes of 10+ air yards — at the fifth-highest rate in the league (37.2%) and led qualified passers in completion rate (61.2%), success rate (60.1%) and passer rating (126.1) on those throws. Over his four-year Eagles tenure, Brown gained the fifth-most yards (2,939) and tied for the third-most touchdowns (24) on downfield passes. Last year, Maye threw into tight windows — less than 1 yard of separation — at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL (17.3%) and led qualified passers with a 48.2% completion rate on those throws. Since Brown was drafted in 2019, he leads the entire league in catches and yards on tight-window targets.
Additionally, Brown has put up excellent numbers against man coverage — and specifically, press coverage — further highlighting his value as the top dog outside for New England. He averaged an elite 2.9 yards per route run against man in 2025 — sixth-most among WRs with 100+ routes. Doubs averaged just over half that in Green Bay last season (1.5); the best remaining Patriots wideout with at least 100 routes against man in 2025 was Kayshon Boutte at 1.2 yards per route run. Brown has also been one of the league’s most productive receivers against press, logging at least 300 yards versus the coverage in each of the last four years. There have only been two instances of a Patriots wide receiver hitting that mark in a season over the last decade.
And — yes, there’s more — Brown has always been a YAC machine. Even after somewhat-baffling usage and reduced efficiency last year in Philadelphia, he racked up 581 yards after catch over expected during the past four seasons — second only to Chase in that span. Brown specifically logged at least 150 yards after catch over expected in 2022, ’23 and ’24 — no New England wideout has hit that mark even once in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). Whether it’s excelling in the areas where Maye and Co. made their living last year or adding in strengths and wrinkles that the Patriots have sorely missed, Brown brings the skills to elevate the entire offense … and potentially vice versa.
The Green Bay Packers have their receiver corps locked down for years to come.
The Packers and wideout Christian Watson agreed to a four-year, $110.5 million extension, which includes a $31 million signing bonus, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday. Green Bay later announced Watson’s extension.
Watson had been set to enter the final year of his contract after inking a one-year extension in September as he was coming off an ACL tear in the Week 18 of the 2024 season. This time around, the Packers made a bigger commitment.
After missing the first six games of 2025 while rehabbing, Watson returned with smashing results, generating 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. He earned a career-high 61.1 yards per game, splashing big plays, with his speed helping open up the offense. In 10 regular-season tilts, he generated 80-plus yards four times.
Last year’s extension provided a cushion for Watson to recover without the pressure of rushing back onto the field. When his return went well, Green Bay was comfortable securing him long-term. The 27-year-old has been a dynamic weapon when he’s been on the field over his four seasons. The key is keeping the speedster healthy.
Watson’s $27.62 million per year places him 15th among receivers, but below the $30-million plateau.
It marks the second receiver deal the Packers have handed out this offseason, after inking slot Jayden Reed to a three-year, $50.25 million extension. With Matthew Golden still entering Year 2 of his rookie deal, Green Bay now sports a WR trio that can grow together around Jordan Love.
Next up for a new deal in Green Bay: tight end Tucker Kraft.
The list of franchises that have never won the Super Bowl is the same today as it was eight years ago, when the Eagles were defending champions for the very first time, having beaten the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Twelve of the 32 teams have yet to hoist the Lombardi Trophy — that’s three-eighths of the NFL.
Eventually, one of them will break through. But who first? Some of the teams on this list were in the playoffs last season and have been consistent contenders. Others have been mired in mediocrity (or worse) for more than a decade.
All 12 ringless teams are listed below from closest to farthest away from competing for a title — and some of them have to be on any self-respecting short list of Super Bowl candidates in 2026.
The Bills rank first here because of Josh Allen. Buffalo has won at least one playoff game for six straight years, and Allen has an 8-7 record in the postseason, but the Bills have not reached a Super Bowl since the 1990s. With Allen, they’re in the race nearly every year, though they failed to take advantage of a perceived weak AFC field last season.
Have the Bills improved their defense enough? It might not be a one-year fix. That’s where the majority of Buffalo’s questions lie, although it remains to be seen if the additions the organization made at wide receiver will be upgrades. The division also appears more competitive a year after the Patriots made a surprise run to the top.
Whether the Bills can finally break through or not is unknown, but this appears to be the best-equipped team on the list to make that happen in the short term.
Even after a 9-8 slip-up season, missing the playoffs, the Lions appear well-equipped to bounce back. Some of that record might have come with bad luck. Detroit was plus-68 in scoring differential (eighth-best in the league) with a 3-5 record in one-score games. Head coach Dan Campbell’s hyper-aggressive approach backfired down the stretch with all the fourth-down failures. There might be some who believe the Lions are on the downswing, but Campbell has lived by this sword previously and had success. His team is also fairly loaded, everything considered, with a battled-tested QB in Jared Goff, other strong offensive components and some firepower on defense.
The division is a monster, and the Lions aren’t sneaking up on anyone these days, but the schedule lines up pretty favorably to take back the NFC North. Even in the stacked NFC field, you have to give Detroit a chance at breaking a championship-less run that is going on nearly 70 years now.
Despite losing the division last season after two straight AFC South titles, the Texans actually fielded the best of DeMeco Ryans’ three squads since the coach took over. They went on the road in the playoffs to send Mike Tomlin home before losing in New England.
Houston’s defense shined in both games while C.J. Stroud struggled. The Stroud question is probably the biggest thing holding me back on the Texans right now, and that isn’t something I expected to write after the quarterback’s breakout rookie season. Stroud has flatlined since then and held back the team from its ultimate potential.
The defense is already one of the three best in the NFL, and it wouldn’t stun me if the unit ends up on top by season’s end. If Stroud and the offense can find another gear (after failing to pass the 20-point mark in more than half their games last season), then this absolutely could be the next franchise to break through.
The Bengals can compete for a title with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins operating at peak performance, just as they were in the 2021 and ’22 seasons. The problem? They are seldom all healthy at the same time. Chase has only missed seven games in five years, but Higgins has missed 16 games over that same span and Burrow has been out with injury for significant chunks of two of the past three seasons.
Since losing in Super Bowl LVI and reaching the AFC Championship Game in the following season, the Bengals are a combined 24-27. Head coach Zac Taylor has held onto his job, and The Big Three will get another crack at it, but the Bengals are on borrowed time a bit.
The other big roadblock to success has been on defense. The Bengals have withered away on that side of the ball over the past four years, going from quite competent to pretty putrid last season. They’ll need to make a healthy jump in production on defense in order to regain contender status, but there are some pieces to work with on that side of the ball.
The Chargers are 22-12 under head coach Jim Harbaugh in the regular season with two 11-win campaigns, but they are 0-2 in his two playoff appearances. Last season represented a small backstep, as well, with the Bolts winning games by far closer margins and failing to take advantage of the Chiefs’ first down year in more than a decade.
At his best, Justin Herbert can make a team a Super Bowl contender, even as his critics fairly point to his playoff shortcomings as evidence that he can’t. This season could end up being a big test of that theory. If the Chargers’ offensive line (which received more reinforcements this offseason and returned its two best blockers from injury) can improve, there will be fewer excuses for Herbert. Mike McDaniel calling plays also is a wild-card factor in this equation.
The Chargers’ defense has been mostly excellent over the past two seasons, but new coordinator Chris O’Leary has big shoes to fill with Jesse Minter taking over the Ravens’ head-coaching job. In half a dozen years as an NFL head man, Harbaugh has shown an ability to win regular-season games at nearly a 70 percent clip and has zero losing seasons, but his postseason record (5-5) doesn’t match that level of performance.
Last season appeared to accelerate the Jaguars’ chances of not only making the franchise’s first Super Bowl, but also potentially winning it. Trevor Lawrence had arguably his best season as a passer and runner in Liam Coen’s debut campaign as head coach, with Jacksonville stealing the AFC South crown and earning the second-most victories (13) in the franchise’s history.
Was last season fool’s gold or an indication that the team is here to stay? Lawrence is just now entering his prime, turning 27 in October, and there are some underrated pieces around him, as well as Coen’s sharp design, which paid immediate dividends in 2025. Defensively, the Jaguars were as good as they’ve been since the elite units from 2017 and ’18, even without a fearsome pass rush.
After a quiet offseason, it’s fair to wonder whether the Jaguars have enough to make a title run. They were closer last season, but the first-round home loss to the Bills is a reminder of how far they still must go.
How close are the Panthers to competing for a title? That depends on how much you buy into last year’s progress. On the one hand, they finished 8-9 and were outscored by 69 points on the season. But on the other hand, Carolina rebounded from a 1-3 start, beat the Rams at home in late November, won the division and nearly knocked off the Rams again in the playoffs.
After adding edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, the front seven appears to be in good shape. Carolina’s defense might rise with a secondary that showed an ability to make big plays last season, but the Panthers must get better on third and fourth downs and kick the pass rush into a higher gear.
All that said, the Panthers’ ability to vie for a Super Bowl in the coming years rests more on Bryce Young than anyone else. The former No. 1 overall pick has had some brilliant moments, but also some maddeningly cold stretches; it’s been far too inconsistent, even week to week. If Young can thrive with some intriguing weapons and a refurbished offensive line, then Carolina’s path to a title is far clearer.
The Vikings are an extremely difficult team to gauge in terms of championship readiness because of the unsettled nature of the quarterback position, both short and long term. Kyler Murray has arrived to push J.J. McCarthy, and for all we know, that competition could be good for both in advancing their careers. But could it yield a championship in Minnesota?
Murray should have every chance to win the starting job, but he’s on a one-year deal with a no-franchise-tag clause, so the Vikings have this season to determine whether he’s the man for the job long term. With only one winning campaign to his name and an 0-1 playoff mark, Murray has yet to show he can get his team close to a Super Bowl. McCarthy has even farther to go in his development.
The Vikings have a talented coach in Kevin O’Connell, one of the best players in the game in Justin Jefferson and a first-rate defense led by the excellent Brian Flores. There are some redeemable qualities about this team, which closed last season with five straight wins. Winning a Super Bowl this season — while competing in one of the tougher divisions — feels like a stretch until we receive more clarity at QB.
Like the Vikings, the Falcons remain in QB purgatory until a winner is declared in the Tua Tagovailoa-Michael Penix Jr. battle. Tagovailoa appears to be the favorite in the race, and he quarterbacked two playoff teams in Miami, but there are health questions about both quarterbacks — and about the team as a whole.
Also like the Vikings, the Falcons were a four-win team entering December of last season. Atlanta played stronger in December, but it wasn’t enough to save Raheem Morris’ job. Two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski has engineered two strong seasons recently in Cleveland, and he has talent to work with in Atlanta, but bringing it all together won’t be instant-coffee quick.
The Falcons have some elite offensive talent, and the defense could level up. The secondary appears to be a strong group, and the reloaded defensive front could be effective, especially if James Pearce Jr. avoids a lengthy suspension. The Falcons might be closer to contention than some believe, but how close they are to a Super Bowl is anyone’s guess now.
Cam Ward didn’t have a great rookie season, and he doesn’t yet resemble a quarterback capable of leading his team to a Super Bowl, but we once heard the same things about the past two Super Bowl-winning QBs, Sam Darnold and Jalen Hurts. Time will tell if Ward ever can reach that level, but for now, I’m considering him a potential asset on the Titans’ quest to make their second Super Bowl and win their first.
Ward is surrounded by some interesting skill-position talent, and the offensive line added help. Perhaps a new scheme will breathe some life into this offense, but the biggest worry is keeping Ward upright after he was clobbered as a rookie, taking a league-high 55 sacks. Defensively, the Titans have a long way to go, but they added as many as a dozen potential new contributors this offseason.
This franchise has reason for optimism. Robert Saleh and all three of his coordinators have head-coaching experience. Ward and a promising 2025 draft crop, along with three or four rookies who could carve out starting jobs, offer some real hope. But the Titans are only nominally closer to a title now than they were a year ago and still have some mountains to move on that front.
I had them higher on this list prior to the Myles Garrett trade. I can’t really blame Cleveland for moving on from the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, but the timing and the return are both fair to question. This essentially pushes the clock back even more on the Browns’ pursuit for a Super Bowl — even if it does increase their long-term chances to finally lift a Lombardi.
The Browns’ young nucleus looks terrific after two strong draft classes. The 2025 rookie crop was the best in the NFL last year, and that’s even with both QB selections yet to fully prove themselves. This season sets up as a possible Deshaun Watson-Shedeur Sanders battle, which certainly raises some red flags, but if either one can straighten out his game, he’ll be leading a team that has risen the talent ranks considerably in recent years under general manager Andrew Berry’s roster building.
Will it all result in some wins? Talk about Super Bowls all you want, but until the Browns can stack back-to-back winning seasons — which last occurred in 1988-89 — it’s all a bit hollow. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Browns’ future does appear bright. The optimism feels founded in some respects. Yet until there is a far stronger product at quarterback, it’s hard to forecast Cleveland’s Super Bowl-less streak ending this season — and maybe next.
At the bottom are the Cardinals. There’s no clear-cut long-term option at quarterback right now — unless you consider third-round pick Carson Beck to be that — and possible starter Jacoby Brissett remains at odds with the team over his contract. Throw in what was an underachieving defense last season, a conundrum in Marvin Harrison Jr. and a surprisingly old roster, along with playing in the gauntlet that is the NFC West, and you can begin to imagine the chore that new head coach Mike LaFleur faces in the desert.
It’s not a completely lost cause, however. If all that talent on defense comes together, Arizona could have a fairly competent unit, especially with a fierce group up front (depending on whether or not it trades Josh Sweat). The secondary also looks like it could be pretty good. Rookie RB Jeremiyah Love should give the offense a boost, Trey McBride is a certifiable stud, and it’s far too soon to give up on Harrison, who’s still just 23 years old.
But with QB questions, offensive line concerns and an absolutely brutal schedule, this does not have the look of a team that’s a few pieces away from a title run. Identifying the right quarterback this season or next offseason is a crucial goal for an organization that hasn’t been a serious contender for more than a decade.
The Eagles’ trade of A.J. Brown to New England becoming official this week confirmed DeVonta Smith as the clear No. 1 receiver in Philadelphia.
Entering Year 6, however, Smith downplayed the reality that he’s now the clear alpha that defenses will key on.
“I mean, I’m just going out there and do my job,” he said this week, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Regardless, however you want to look at it, one, two, three, four. End of the day, we all have jobs, and I’ve got to go out there and do it. I’m going to do the same thing I’ve been doing.”
In five seasons, the 27-year-old has generated three 1,000-plus yard campaigns, including 1,008 yards and four touchdowns on 77 catches in 2025. A smooth route-runner who can generate easy separation, Smith has always boasted No. 1 WR traits; now, he should get the target share worthy of the talent.
“He’s always been a No. 1 receiver,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said. “Nothing has changed for Smitty.
“Smitty’s always led from the front. So that narrative, we can shut that down now because Smitty’s always led from the front. And just because he never wore that captain’s patch the last two years didn’t mean that he wasn’t a captain in the locker room. But he always led from the front.
“And that’s why I’m calling it now. When he wears that captain’s patch this year, there’s no surprise. He’s always been a captain in my eyes, just from the way he’s led, the way he’s always gone about his business on and off the field.”
The Eagles prepared for the Brown trade by adding first-round pick Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown this offseason. While none is a direct replacement for A.J. Brown, the collective, along with Smith, gives Philly a deeper WR crew than it sported a year ago. Even with additional weapons, Smith still projects to earn a significant uptick in targets. His career-high of 136 targets came in 2022, and he earned 113 a year ago. Brown averaged 130.3 targets over his four seasons in Philly.
Smith noted that there might be weeks when teammates are targeted more, and that’s fine with him.
“I’m just going out there to do my job, whatever that may be for the week that we’re playing,” he said. “Whoever we’re playing, whatever the job may be for that week. I’m just trying to go out there and do that.”
Alvin Kamara made a spur-of-the-moment decision to take a red-eye flight from Miami to New Orleans to join his teammates at OTAs on Wednesday. The veteran running back didn’t alert any teammates or staff of his arrival, preferring to surprise the club.
His plan certainly caught everyone off guard.
“I walked in this morning and I was just talking s— to some dudes and they looked up, like, ‘Man … who the f—?’” Kamara said Wednesday, via The Advocate. “They were like, ‘Oh s—, AK!’”
Kamara generally skips voluntary workouts, preferring to train on his own. Even coach Kellen Moore was surprised the 30-year-old running back reported this week.
“Obviously a little bit unexpected,” Moore said.
Kamara’s situation has hovered over the club this offseason as he enters the final year of his contract, which was restructured by the Saints earlier this offseason. New Orleans also inked Travis Etienne in free agency, putting Kamara’s future in question. The team has consistently rebuffed discussing its plans with the RB this offseason, while rumors of a potential trade or release have swirled.
Despite the uncertainty with his status, Kamara said he harbors no ill will toward the team with which he’s spent his entire nine-year career.
“On my side, I feel no pressure,” Kamara said. “There’s no beef or bad blood, I don’t think. I’m just doing what I do every year, working. Whatever decisions have got to be made, they’ll be made.”
Karama was asked if he’d be open to taking a pay cut to remain in New Orleans after he’d said in previous seasons he’d rather retire than play in another city.
“I haven’t had any conversations in regard to that, so I don’t know,” Kamara said. “I think there’s a time and a place for everything. If that conversation comes up, then I’ll have an answer for you when it comes up.”
Kamara reporting for voluntary workouts puts the situation on the front burner. The question remains whether the Saints will keep him around, paired with Etienne, or move on from the five-time Pro Bowler.
EAGAN, Minn. — The comfortable life Nolan Teasley was living after college left him unfulfilled, and he could clearly see what was missing: football.
Encouraged by his wife to rediscover his passion for the sport, Teasley diligently sent letters to all 32 clubs in the NFL in pursuit of career satisfaction over the benefits and security his work in marketing provided.
The Seattle Seahawks were the only one willing to listen. After 13 years with his home state team, Teasley is departing with two Super Bowl rings and a dream job as general manager of the Minnesota Vikings.
“It was always going to take a special opportunity to leave a special place in Seattle,” Teasley said Wednesday at his introductory news conference at Vikings headquarters. “As I progressed through this process, it became very clear the Minnesota Vikings were just that.”
Having fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four seasons in the role, Vikings ownership appointed executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski as interim GM to steady the ship through free agency and the draft. Brzezinski, a well-regarded salary cap expert and contract negotiator around the league and a revered fixture within the organization, was also one of the five finalists for the job.
The success the Seahawks have had under president of football operations and general manager John Schneider clearly held significant sway for the small circle of Vikings leaders involved in the search, including head coach Kevin O’Connell.
The Seahawks made the playoffs nine times and reached three Super Bowls over the 13 years that Teasley worked for them, winning it all after the 2013 and 2025 seasons without ever bottoming out between two different championship cores.
“That did have a factor to play in it, but again that’s got to be along with the person,” Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf said. “The way that Nolan carries himself, his devotion to process and working with others, I think all of that combines.”
Schneider hired Teasley as an intern in the scouting department and gave him a full-time position the following year. He was promoted to assistant director of pro personnel in 2017, again to director of pro personnel in 2018, and finally to assistant general manager in 2023.
“The Vikings aren’t just getting a great football mind. They’re getting an exceptional human being — ego-free, values-driven, and one of the best communicators I’ve been around in this business,” Schneider said in a statement issued by the Seahawks.
Teasley, 42, will report directly to ownership along with O’Connell, who’s entering his fifth season. Though they’re equals on the leadership chart, Teasley will have authority over the roster. Brzezinski, who attended the news conference and was the frequent target of praise from Teasley and Wilf, will work under Teasley and remain in the executive role he’s held since 2014. Brzezinski has begun his 28th year with the Vikings.
Seeking stronger collaboration among all facets of their football operations with a general manager skilled in consensus-building between coaches, scouts and researchers, the Vikings were unconcerned about the potential for power struggles over personnel decisions and have raved this week about the combination of expertise and personality they have with Teasley, O’Connell and Brzezinski in their respective areas.
“If it comes to structure, we’ve got a problem, OK?” Wilf said. “The end result is making sure leaders collaborate and work together.”
Teasley, who has four sons with his wife, Morgan, will live outside the state of Washington for the first time in his life. After a standout career at Ellensburg High School, he stayed in town to play running back for Central Washington University before hanging up the cleats following his junior season and graduating with a degree in public relations in 2007.
Nearly two decades later, he’s deep in the game he’s always loved, tasked with elevating a star-crossed franchise that has yet to win a title despite plenty of regular-season success and has not won a game in the playoffs in seven years.
“Our goals are simple,” Teasley said. “We’re going to build the deepest, most competitive roster possible so we can be at our best in December and January and ultimately work toward winning the Super Bowl this fan base deserves.”
Five-time NBA champ Ron Harper is not surprised by the impact his 20-year-old son is having in his first NBA season.
Dylan Harper became just the 3rd rookie in Finals history to score 10+ points in any quarter in the play-by-play era (since 1998).
SAN ANTONIO — In his very short time with the San Antonio Spurs, he has already developed a rare talent which sets him apart from most of his peers, and it is this: He can stir the imagination of thousands.
This is the typical reaction inside Frost Bank Center whenever Dylan Harper does something age-defying, which happens regularly now, the latest in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals — on the biggest stage — when he dropped a layup while nearly twisting himself into a Twizzler to avoid defenders.
It was both an athletic and daring play by the 6-foot-6 guard, and the breathless response no doubt among those who marveled at it was this:
He’s just a rookie?
And he’s only 20?
Yes, given those details, these witnesses are understandably caught up in the player’s potential more than the present, although there is one person in attendance who does nothing except shrug. That’s because what we’re seeing from Harper now, and what we suspect we’ll get from him in the future, is nothing new to the father who knew.
“A long time ago,” said Ron Harper, matter of factly, “when he was probably 12. Because he loved the game, that’s how I could tell. He loved to play, always had a basketball in his hands since he was two.”
Ron Harper is a reliable source not only because, obviously, he’s a “proud dad, super proud” as he says, but also a five-time champion with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. That combo makes him a ball-knower, more qualified than most fathers when it comes to projecting a son’s potential.
As a player, Dylan already checks more boxes than an Amazon worker. Good size, solid skills, very coachable, blends well with teammates, stretchy shooting range, strong finisher at the rim and energetic defender.
But, and this is most attractive, at 20 he’s hardly a finished product.
His father’s scouting report is this: “His game is not weak. He plays hard. And he knows how to play. I don’t think there’s a weak part of his game. Got an all-around game. He’s just as proud of being a defensive player as he is a scorer. He just needs more repetition.”
Yes, the “weakest” part of his game is his age. He’s not as good now as everyone projects him to be very soon.
But, what about now? He was the Spurs’ best player through much of Game 1. Imagine, a rookie setting the tone, scoring 12 of his 16 points (with six rebounds and a 12 plus-minus) in the first half, causing the New York Knicks to tweak their game plan. He became the youngest player to score double digits in a Finals game and his 251 playoff points surpassed David Robinson’s rookie total with the Spurs.
Isn’t a rookie’s knees supposed to knock when he’s tossed into the flame of the championship round and asked to produce?
The Finals aren’t sympathetic toward rookies, or even heavily populated by them, mainly because the best tend to play for the worst teams and therefore never get the chance. The ultimate exception: Magic Johnson, with his epic 42-point performance for the Lakers in the 1980 clincher; he’s the only rookie Finals MVP.
But no Finals rookie of any significance was as young as Harper, who was still a teenager at the All-Star break.
“My first year in the league and being at the Finals is a blessing,” Dylan said. “I feel like this is every kid’s dream, every basketball player’s dream.”
It certainly was his father’s dream once Ron Harper in mid-career joined Michael Jordan. Suddenly it became realistic. Harper entered the league as a scorer; he was the 1987 Rookie of the Year who averaged 22.9 points. Then he gradually morphed into a tenacious defender and, alongside Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, made life hell for the team on the other bench.
That experience with the Bulls, and later with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal with the Lakers, gave Harper immeasurable championship tales and know-all to pass down to Dylan prior to the 2026 Finals.
“Me and my dad talk here and there,” said Dylan. “He gave me little tips about the Finals and things like that, but ultimately you’ve got to experience it on your own to kind of know how to navigate through it.”
When Ron Harper talks basketball and kids, he always mentions two — Dylan and Ron Jr., the older brother who finished this season with the Boston Celtics.
“When they were younger both wanted to play in the NBA. I said, ‘OK, work hard at it, stay positive and don’t let nobody discourage you. Because everybody’s going to compare you to what I did.’
“I would’ve been fine if they chose to do something else in life, as long as they did something positive. But they wanted to play in the NBA. That was their dream, not mine, since they were small. And they wanted to play in the NBA at the same time, and here they are. Hey, stuff happens.”
Both were also schooled on basketball by their mom, Maria, who coached both of their high school teams as an assistant. And as the younger brother, Dylan also had the advantage of being developed by an older brother and of course, a father who saw the drive very early.
“We competed in everything,” Ron Harper said. “Like Wiffle ball. I would throw them the ball and they wanted me to throw it harder. I’d ask them, you really want me to throw it fast? ‘Throw harder, dad.’ They would always compete in everything, against each other, against me. That’s how they learned how not to be scared of nothing, no situation.”
Even as adults, the competition continues, mainly outside of basketball.
“They are close friends, they hang out, talk a lot, love to play video games,” said the father. “I guarantee you after Game 1, Dylan went to the house, Ronald was probably already on the game console and they sat there and played until 2-3 o’clock in the morning.”
His sons were just vaguely aware of what he once did for a living; they didn’t come of age until after Harper retired. He never played old videos of his games while at home, so they learned from school mainly, from friends — and their fathers — who explained just how accomplished Ron Harper was in the league.
“After a while, they heard it so much that they wanted to be as good as me,” Ron Harper said. “And I always told them that I hoped they would strive to be better than me. Don’t be me, be better than what I was. Be great at it.”
When the Spurs-Knicks series began, the father reminded his son of that message and had a request for him and his brother:
“I want them to win more championships than me. That’s the goal I set. Win more than me.”
Dylan Harper has a chance to creep within four, here in his first season. Much like his father rode shotgun to Jordan, it helps that Dylan is with Victor Wembanyama, who’s just two years older. Common basketball sense says Dylan will have multiple chances at championships because, well, there’s a tendency to project his future, with good reason.
Dylan played just four minutes in the fourth quarter of Game 1, when the Knicks made their victorious rally, and it would come as a surprise if he’s on the bench again in such a situation.
“I feel like everyone wants to be out there in those times and to close the game out,” Dylan said. “But we won 62 games, we made it this far. So I’m going to keep trusting in the coaching staff, trusting in (coach) Mitch (Johnson) and just having that trust, knowing that they know what’s best for the team. And if they think that’s the best thing for the team and that helps us win the most, I’m all for it. Obviously, you want to be out there, but ain’t nothing to hang my head on.”
Ron Harper said: “It was a tough game, the Knicks played hard. He played great that day, but you know we need the whole team to play. Like I told him, stay positive. He joined a great organization.”
When a 20-year-old can deliver as he did in his first NBA Finals and strike the imagination of everyone who witnessed it, then yes, Dylan Harper has a chance to catch his father.
But five championships is a steep number. He’ll need to get started. It’s not about the future for a rookie, in that regard. It’s about now.
“He’s been around the game for a long damn time,” said the father. “That’s why he’s not your normal 20-year-old kid. He has an edge to him that he doesn’t show. He loves to work on his game. He knows what he’s doing.”
After his strong performance in Game 1, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is leading the pack in the NBA Finals MVP Ladder.
SAN ANTONIO — The first installment of the MVP ladder might look different from the actual voting whenever the NBA Finals end. But there’s no surprise regarding which player owns pole position for the award.
It’s Jalen Brunson, followed by everyone else through one game. The Knicks guard made a bold opening statement with a strong finish to Game 1 and subsequently raised the bar for the field.
That said, much can change between now and the finish line. The championship isn’t awarded so soon and the Finals MVP isn’t crowned so quickly, either. Given the typical ebb and flow of a seven-game series, conversations can shift suddenly — almost from game to game — based on who steps forward and who regresses.
The Ladder is dominated by Knicks players, who own the top three spots. That’s an encouraging sign for a team that plays with a good flow, with players who understand their roles. After Game 2, will this ladder look the same? If so, the Knicks will go home for Games 3 and 4 feeling very frisky about their chances. They already managed the goal of getting one in San Antonio.
The Spurs have some catching up to do in the series … and on the Finals MVP Ladder.
The stat to know: With 15 rebounds, six assists and four steals — all game-highs for the Knicks — Josh Hart (No. 3 on the ladder) became the first player since Larry Bird to post those numbers in an NBA Finals game.
What they’re saying: “Jalen was the MVP in the second half. He was huge for us. He did what MVP candidates are supposed to do. He carried us home. We put the ball in his hands and he got it done for us down the stretch.” — Knicks coach Mike Brown on Brunson.
1. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
NBA Finals stats: 30 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg
His case: At this stage of the NBA season, where only one thing counts — winning. Brunson is the main reason the Knicks are up a game and have snatched home-court advantage from the Spurs. He had a choppy and uneven performance, much like everyone else, when the Finals tipped off. Yet again, he won, and did so by applying all the necessary touches in the fourth-quarter stretch — toughness, determination, play-making and of course, buckets.
Brunson moved ahead of the Ladder field in the process, and now the standard has been set. Can anyone match his level and surge ahead in the coming games? That’s quite a bar to clear — not impossible, just challenging.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
NBA Finals stats: 18 ppg, 12 rpg, 4 apg
His case: If Towns emerges as the best center in this series, that’s quite the accomplishment, given the competition. Yes, when it’s Victor Wembanyama, an MVP contender in the regular season and strong performer through much of the playoffs, the challenge for Towns is to outperform his counterpart, which would obviously give the Knicks a solid chance of winning the championship.
Towns is approaching this series very wisely, given his Game 1, by using his shooting skills to force Wemby to venture far from the paint, then his width to gain a physical advantage on Wemby when driving to the hoop. A double-double was a fine start by Towns.
3. Josh Hart, New York Knicks
NBA Finals stats: 3 ppg, 15 rpg, 6 apg
His case: He posted one of the strangest stat lines in NBA Finals history. In addition to the numbers above, Hart also had six assists in the opener. But then you study the player himself and can understand why Hart managed this. He’s not a typical player, more like a jack of all trades who does whatever’s necessary.
He might not shoot well or compile more rebounds the rest of this series than he had in Game 1. But this is certain: Hart will not be outworked. That Game 1 performance was all guts and effort.
4. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
NBA Finals stats: 16 ppg, 8 rpg, 1 spg
His case: Harper had a sizzling start to Game 1 and, through three quarters led all Spurs in scoring. He executed a reverse layup that was an instant highlight and explained his versatility and ability to reach the rim as good or better than anyone in this series.
Suppose a rookie wins Finals MVP? That’s a tall order for Harper, and for that to happen, the Spurs will need to increase his minutes. He’s a bench player in name only.
5. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
NBA Finals stats: 26 ppg, 12 rpg, 3 bpg
His case: Taken as a whole, his Game 1 wasn’t disappointing, or wouldn’t be if his name wasn’t Wembanyama. That’s the point. Wembanyama has set such a high standard for himself that anything less is reflected as a failure.
Yes, he’ll need to be more efficient offensively after shooting 6-for-21 and doing so awkwardly at times. It would help if his touches begin in the paint where he can take advantage of his height and reach, instead of the perimeter, where he’s forced to be more creative. Wembanyama is fully capable of a bounce-back performance; even the Knicks are aware of this.
