The Timberwolves will want to be more ambitious in the 2025 offseason, as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are throwing out Embiid trades they feel could work.

So, the matchup is set. It’s the Paul George finals, albeit without Paul George — who had arguably the best season of his career with the Thunder, averaging 28 points and finishing third in the MVP voting for 2018-19 — starting at OKC on Thursday.

Who will advance to the NBA Finals? And who will raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June? Members of The Athletic NBA staff share their predictions: East finals: Knicks in 7 West finals: Thunder in 6 NBA Finals: Thunder in 6 Finals MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Analysis: After seeing how hard the flawed,

Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard locked down Knicks PG Jalen Brunson in Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 to clinch NBA Finals berth