EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2025-26 NBA regular season is coming to a close and the playoff picture is starting to solidify, but buzz around the draft and offseason is already humming.For the 10 teams already eliminated from playoff contention, 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; several of the top players are expected to be future stars in the league, which has resulted in some of the most overt tanking efforts in years.Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors expect Stephen Curry to return Sunday against the Houston Rockets after missing 27 games with a right knee injury; the Los Angeles Lakers announced Friday that superstar Luka Doncic will miss the rest of the regular season with a hamstring injury; and the Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration investigation continues on with no end in sight. Commissioner Adam Silver did not address the investigation at last week's board of governors meeting.Here's what our insiders are hearing from their sources across the league.Quick links:NBA playoff watch | ScheduleStandings | Free agencyApril 3Luka Doncic out for the rest of the regular seasonLakers star Luka Doncic is out indefinitely with a Grade 2 right hamstring injury, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin. Doncic will miss the rest of the regular season, and his availability for the playoffs is uncertain.In the 20 minutes after the news broke, the Lakers' title chances dropped from 30-1 to 100-1, per DraftKings Sportsbook.Doncic, who has played in 64 games and ranked fourth in ESPN's latest MVP straw poll, will apply for what's called an "extraordinary circumstances challenge" to the 65-game rule for award consideration, per his agent, Bill Duffy. Per ESPN's Bobby Marks, Doncic can apply the exception for the two games he missed in December for the birth of his daughter. The application must be made no earlier than 12 p.m. ET on the last day of the regular season and no later than 11:59 p.m. on 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 six previous seasons.There will be no financial implications in his next contract if the application is denied.Though the Lakers haven't provided a timeline for his return, Grade 2 hamstring injuries typically require a monthlong recovery. Doncic has averaged 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 past 10 games, are third in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the No. 4-seeded Denver Nuggets, 2.5 games ahead of the No. 5-seeded Houston Rockets and 3.5 ahead of the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.April 2Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration investigation ongoingThe investigation into an alleged deal between the LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and the company Aspiration is ongoing, sources told ESPN's Baxter Holmes.The news broke in September of 2025 that the Clippers were being investigated over allegation that a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration constituted salary cap circumvention. Owner Steve Ballmer has denied the allegations.Read more: The latest on the NBA's investigation into the LA ClippersFront offices debate the NBA draft's No. 1 pickESPN's Jeremy Woo and Tim Bontemps talked to executives across the league about the upcoming 2026 NBA draft, including whom they believe will be taken with the first overall selection, what concerns front offices have with prospects and best fits.The NBA draft lottery takes place on May 10 ahead of the draft on June 25 and 26.Read more: 2026 NBA draft: What scouts, execs are watching in top five picksMarch 31What's next for LeBron this offseason?ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Dave McMenamin broke down the six possible avenues LeBron James could take this offseason, including staying with the Los Angeles Lakers, returning home to Cleveland and or landing with some surprising wildcard teams around the league.Read more: Next for LeBron? NBA insiders on Lakers, Cavs, free agency optionsMarch 27How scouts and front offices view the Spurs' playoff chancesIn their weekly intel file, ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst talked to coaches, front offices and scouts to gauge the growing hype around the San Antonio Spurs' playoff run.The Spurs are currently two games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference.Read more: NBA intel: Spurs title buzz grows among execs, coaches, scouts
