Host Danny Leroux and Seth Partnow of The Athletic preview the NBA playoffs.

They break down which series they are most excited for, which are the toughest to call, key match-ups and much more.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed. 

Wednesday night's Play-In Tournament games averaged 3.25 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2.

The number is a 25% increase from last year.

The Sixers' win over the Heat averaged 3.4 million viewers, with the Hawks-Bulls nightcap averaged 3.07 million viewers.

Tuesday night's Warriors-Kings game averaged 4.05 million viewers.

UConn forward Alex Karaban declared for the NBA Draft on Thursday.

Karaban averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds on the season.

Karaban, who is projected as a late first-round or second-round pick, will maintain his college eligibility. 

Alex Caruso has been upgraded to a game-time decision to play against the Miami Heat on Friday.

Caruso suffered a left ankle sprain on Wednesday against the Hawks.

With swelling reducing around the ankle, there is optimism that Caruso could play against the Heat.

The NBA's exclusive negotiating window with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery expires on Monday and sources tell CNBC that it will likely pass without a deal.

Both Disney and WBD are in active talks with the NBA to keep games on ESPN and TNT.

The NBA would like to bring in at least one new partner to serve as a flagship streamer.

Beginning on Monday, the NBA can open negotiations with Amazon, Apple, YouTubeTV, Peacock and Netflix, who have all had preliminary conversations about potential interest.

“We continue to have productive discussions with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery on a renewal of our media deals,” a league spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC.

TNT has shown NBA games since 1988, while ESPN's deal with the league began in 2002.

The NBA is looking to double the $24 billion it generated from its previous media rights deal with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery by adding new partners and charging more for rights.

Last year’s NBA playoffs was the most watched in 11 years across TNT, ABC, ESPN and NBA TV, according to Nielsen. 

Kawhi Leonard continues to have inflammation in his surgically repaired knee and is questionable for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks.

Lawrence Frank said Leonard has yet to go through contact before Thursday's practice. Frank said Leonard's right knee, which has undergone surgeries to repair a torn ACL and meniscus, is structurally "solid and intact" but that he is experiencing "some very, very stubborn inflammation."

"He's doing everything," Frank said of Leonard treating his knee. "Our medical staff is doing everything to get the inflammation down so he can play. Progress has been made, but more progress needs -- the inflammation needs to continue to reduce so he can do functional basketball movements."

Leonard underwent surgery on his torn ACL in July 2021 and a cleanup procedure to repair a torn meniscus in June 2023.

Reed Sheppard has announced he will leave Kentucky to enter the 2024 NBA draft. Sheppard is expected to be a lottery pick.

Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 28.9 minutes in his freshman season at Kentucky. 

The Golden State Warriors are expected to evaluate their trade options on Andrew Wiggins this offseason, sources tell Logan Murdock of The Ringer. 

The Warriors signed Wiggins to a four-year, $109 million extension in 2022, but he hasn't regained the form that arguably made him their second most important player when they won the title that year.

Wiggins missed time tending to a personal matter in each of the past two seasons. 

Wiggins has also been made somewhat redundant due to the emergence of Jonathan Kuminga. 

NBA stars, as defined by the Player Participation Policy, played in 85 percent games, which was up 10 percentage points compared to the previous three 82-game seasons.

This includes players like Ja Morant, Ben Simmons and LaMelo Ball, who missed the vast majority of their seasons.

On average, stars played in 65 games this season compared to 60 last season.

Zion Williamson set a new personal record for games played with 70. Kawhi Leonard played in 68 after coming off a meniscus injury.

But as the playoffs begin, Giannis Antetokounmpo's status is uncertain after suffering a non-contact calf injury.  Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid have also returned from injury. Williamson is out with a hamstring injury and Jimmy Butler is out with an MCL injury.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed on a new lucrative, multiyear contract extension with Converse. Gilgeous-Alexander will also be Creative Director of Converse Basketball with a signature shoe releasing in 2025.

Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to be a top-3 finisher in MVP voting this season after guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Gilgeous-Alexander first signed with Converse in 2020.