CJ McCollum joined ESPN as an NBA analyst and will make his debut during an alternate telecast of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

McCollum, who has previously appeared as an analyst for ESPN, graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in journalism.

"I am excited to bring what I feel is my unique perspective, based on my vast knowledge of the game that I've gained during my nine years as a player in the NBA," said McCollum. "To have an opportunity to put my journalism background to use on the largest stage with the many talented professionals at ESPN is a dream come true."

McCollum will also develop a podcast with ESPN, in addition to working as an analyst for the NBA Summer League. 

Zion Williamson has been fully cleared to play without any restrictions after missing the entire 21-22 season. Williamson will be eligible for a contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans and their ownership appears to be unwilling to give him a fully guaranteed max contract.

"The big drama this summer is about Zion's contract," said Brian Windhorst on Get Up. "At the end of the season when he spoke to the media, he said he would happily sign an extension when it's put in front of him. But it's not that simple. Any player in his situation would sign a five-year guaranteed max contract.

"But from what I've been told, the Pelicans at this point are not willing to offer a full five-year guaranteed deal. And a lot of it is flowing down from ownership. Gayle Benson, the owner, is also the owner of the New Orleans Saints and I've been told they are going to take a football-style, Saints-style mentality with this contract negotiation. They will offer him a huge contract, but will not guarantee all of it.

"If Zion accepts those terms and still protects himself and maybe gets $100 million plus guaranteed, he signs it and everything is fine. If he doesn't sign it and wants the full [contract] guaranteed, we can have some drama into the fall."

The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Thursday that recent imaging of Zion Williamson’s right fifth metatarsal showed continued improvement.

Williamson has been cleared in his return to play progression without any restrictions.

Williamson missed the entire 21-22 season recovering from offseason foot surgery.

Williamson will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason.

The Sacramento Kings were one of the big winners at the NBA Draft Lottery, as they jumped up to the fourth overall pick. The Portland Trail Blazers slid back a selection, while the New Orleans Pelicans held pat with the pick they got from the Los Angeles Lakers.

What those three have in common is that all are seen as teams likely to consider trading their picks for win-now veteran help.

The Kings desperately want to snap their 16-year playoff drought. If they can move the fourth overall pick to bring in a veteran to aid in a playoff push, it's something Sacramento is expected to strongly consider.

Portland is resetting their roster after not trading Damian Lillard and is known to be looking for veteran help. New Orleans is hoping to make a push up the standings with a healthy roster next season. Both teams would like to add players to help in a playoff push, as opposed to selecting a developmental prospect in the middle of the lottery.

The Orlando Magic have won the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery for the fourth time in franchise history. 

Some combination of Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero are expected to be the top-3 selections in the draft. ESPN's Jonathan Givony projects Smith going No. 1 to the Magic, followed by Holmgren to the Thunder, Banchero to the Rockets, Shaedon Sharpe to the Kings, and Keegan Murray to the Pistons. 

1. Magic

2. Thunder

3. Rockets

4. Kings

5. Pistons

6. Pacers

7. Blazers

8. Pelicans (via LAL)

9. Spurs

10. Wizards

11. Knicks

12. Thunder (via LAC)

13. Hornets

14. Cavaliers

The New Orleans Pelicans are not as motivated to trade Devonte' Graham this offseason as they were last year with Eric Bledsoe, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

Graham fell out of the playoff rotation, but that may have been more due to injury misfortune than a personnel decision by Willie Green.

The Pelicans acquired Graham last offseason on a four-year, $47 million sign-and-trade with the Charlotte Hornets. 

Though both New York franchises will need to wait another year to try and end their title droughts, the NBA postseason is still bringing a ton of heat as it enters the second round. And the great news for sports bettors in the Empire State is that the Caesars Sportsbook NY promo code REALGMCZR is unlocking an incredible welcome bonus just in time. How does first-bet insurance up to $1,100 sound?

That’s what’s available just for signing up and using that promo code. Among all promo codes offered by the top New York sportsbooks, this is one of our favorites. It’s a great deal, it’s easy to earn and redeem, and it gives you access to everything that Caesars Sportsbook New York offers its players on a daily basis.

We’ll go over what exactly the Caesars Sportsbook NY promo code REALGMCZR entails, how to earn it and redeem the insurance if you need it, and what the requirements are of any free bets you may acquire in the process. With the NBA heading into the second round and the Conference Finals just a few short weeks away, it’s the perfect time for sports bettors in New York to get onboard with one of the best sports betting apps around.

The best part is that you don’t have to live in New York to use the Caesars Sportsbook promo code, you simply have to be in a state in which Caesars Sportsbook currently operates.

Get Insured With Caesars Sportsbook NY

If you’re a fan, you understand how the first round of the NBA Playoffs went. Though there were no true upsets —the Celtics (sorry, Nets fans), Pelicans and Timberwolves made things interesting. It has been a difficult postseason to wager on because of all the surprises, which is why New York bettors should be on the lookout for deals. A great deal is readily available to all new players thanks to the Caesars Sportsbook NY promo code REALGMCZR. Every penny up to $1,100 on your first bet gets insured in the event that your wager is a loser.

Here's how it all works: Register for a new account and use the Caesars Sportsbook New York promo code REALGMCZR. That automatically locks you into the first-bet insurance. Complete your registration and make a qualifying deposit. Then it’s time to find your favorite bet on the board. It can be a bet on any active sports betting market. Place your first bet up to $1,100. Then simply sit back and relax, because of the promo code you used, it’s insured if it winds up losing.

If your bet wins, you’re profitable and on your way with Caesars Sportsbook NY. You won’t earn anything additional because the insurance wasn’t needed, but there’s nothing wrong with simply having money in your bankroll. If you lose, that’s where the promo code comes into play.

Redeem First-Bet Insurance With Caesars Sportsbook NY

You never know how important insurance is until you don’t have it. With the Caesars Sportsbook NY promo code REALGMCZR, your first bet is covered. If you lose, it will hook you up with a free bet in the total amount of your original wager that you lost, up to $1,100.

New York bettors will then have seven days to use that free bet, which is a simple requirement given all the great daily NBA action going on. There’s a simple one-time playthrough requirement, too, meaning any winnings on your free bet are withdrawable funds.

Caesars Sportsbook New York is the place to be for the NBA postseason. The welcome bonus on top of all the great daily features and bonuses that Caesars offers makes it one of our favorites. Register today and start earning.

In other sports betting news, online wagering began in New York in January, but only recently arrived in Ontario. To find more information about Ontario’s mobile sports betting and online casino bonuses, you can check our Ontario sports betting and Ontario online casino bonus codes reviews.

While Zion Williamson has gone on record that he is prepared sign an extension with the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason, David Griffin is not necessarily expecting an easy resolution.

“Obviously, that conversation is going to be one that will be a challenge,” Griffin said last Friday. “When it's time to have that, we’ll have it. And right now what we're focused on is him being healthy, and (being in) kind of elite condition to play basketball and we'll start there.”

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Pelicans are expected to attach some stipulations where they won't offer Williamson a fully guaranteed five-year, $181 million max contract.

"I don't think they're offering a five-year max," said Windhorst. 

"I don't think they're going to want to guarantee the full five years. I think they'll come into it not wanting him to have a player option. In other words, it will be a five-year contract and we'll have protection. And they'll want to haggle over what constitutes the protection."

Windhorst then said he expects the contract talks to be similar to the one Joel Embiid signed in 2017 with the Philadelphia 76ers. Windhorst cautioned that the difference between the two situations is that Embiid was on the same page with the 76ers at the time.

Zion Williamson is running out of ways to say he wants to stay with the New Orleans Pelicans. Williamson said he'd sign a contract extension as soon as it is offered, but added some context beyond that.

“I can’t control rumors and how people feel about certain things,” Williamson said. “I said this in my interview with (Pelicans broadcaster) Antonio (Daniels). Anybody who knows me, knows I want to be here. If they feel otherwise, I can’t help that. But if you know me, you know I want to be here.”

Williamson is eligible to sign a projected five-year, $185.7 million extension this summer. That's a significant investment for New Orleans, but their young star is eager to put his injuries behind him.

"Being real, it sucks watching from the sideline. I just want to be out there," Williamson said. "Just seeing the potential. We have a lot of great pieces. I’m excited to get out on the court with those guys.”