Even though Hoops HQ is technically a college-focused platform, I, like you, love everything about Naismith’s Game, which is why I have been riveted to the NBA playoffs. The early stages of the NBA’s postseason feels a lot like March Madness. Just like in the NCAA Tournament, as the competition progresses, the stakes get higher, but the games get fewer and further between. So it’s going to be bittersweet to watch the Thunder and the Pacers tip off on Thursday night. Here’s hoping the series goes as long as possible, with plenty of buzzer beaters and overtimes along the way.

I’ve also been interested to see the hand-wringing and attendant analysis that a pair of “small market teams” are the last ones standing. There is no doubt that the bigger the brand, the bigger the city, the higher the TV ratings. This is just a fact, across all sports. And yet, there is also something righteous about seeing these off-the-beaten-path franchises vanquish those metropolitan titans from New York, Boston and Los Angeles. Turns out they play ball in Flyover country, too — and it’s pretty darn good.

Seeing these teams in the Finals is also a validation of the NBA’s salary cap structure, which has not only paved the way for the smaller market teams to succeed, but also created a level of parity where the league will soon have a seventh champion in the last seven years. (As a Nationals fan, it burns me that Major League Baseball has no such system.) This is something to think about as college sports moves into a new era where a de facto salary cap will be put in place. I’ll explain what that will look like in the weeks ahead — that is, assuming that Judge Wilken ever does render final approval to the House vs. NCAA settlement. I’ve been writing for many days that this was coming any day now. If you think things are chaotic now, just wait to see what happens if she rejects the latest version.

At any rate, if you really and truly love basketball — and I know you do — then it shouldn’t matter what teams are in the Finals. Just knowing they’re the two best is enough. I can’t wait to watch, although it makes me sad to think that the season will soon be over.

Have a great Wednesday and thanks as always for your support of Hoops HQ. —Seth

Latest NBA Draft Intel: Khaman Maluach, The Mystery of Cedric Coward

By Jonathan Wasserman

The NBA Draft is still four weeks away, but the work to prepare for it is in full game mode. That includes not just the players but the teams, who are spending long hours hosting workouts, breaking down video, working the phones and discussing over and over again amongst themselves whom they should draft and what possible trades should be explored.

The league held its annual draft combine in Chicago earlier this month, where a lot of the action played out in public. It’s not easy to suss out what's happening behind the scenes, but that’s what Hoops HQ will do over the next four weeks.

There will be much to track between now and June 25-26, when we’ll have all the answers at the draft in Brooklyn, N.Y. In the meantime, here is the inside scoop on some of the hottest topics from around the league.

Portal Latest: Pop Isaacs Flips From Houston to Texas Tech, UNC's Lubin to NC State

By Drew Blouin

It’s been a busy week in the transfer portal. A slew of intrastate moves, seismic waves in the NIL landscape and the impact of a number of key players opting to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to college has consumed the attention of hoops fans over the past few days.

Thanks to a partnership between The Portal Report and Hoops HQ, these are the top eight headlines of the past week.

1. Highly Touted Floor General Flips in the Lone Star State

The return of Milos Uzan, a 6-foot-4 junior guard who started each of Houston’s 40 games on their run to the national championship game, certainly threw a wrench in the plans of Pop Isaacs.

A junior guard who started his career at Texas Tech, the 6-foot-2 Isaacs donned a Creighton uniform this season. Although December hip surgery limited him to just eight games, Isaacs’ ability and reputation earned him a variety of high-major interest in the portal.

On April 8, Isaacs committed to coach Kelvin Sampson and Houston. But following the return of Uzan, who will undoubtedly retain his spot in the Cougars rotation, Isaacs made the switch. Tuesday’s commitment adds to an Aggies’ portal class that ranks No. 11 in The Portal Report’s team rankings.

2. Big Man Commits to In-State Rival

After starting his career with a season at Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, 6-foot-8 junior forward Ven-Allen Lubin suited up for North Carolina this past season. On Sunday, Lubin committed to coach Will Wade and North Carolina State, heading....