Wall leads Wizards past Lakers

Nikola Topic, a potential top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, suffered a left knee injury on Monday. Topic was injured on a non-contact play after an awkward landing following making a pass. An MRI showed Topic suffered a sprained knee.

Topic is expected to miss the remainder of the ABA Finals due to the injury. Topic is expected to be a full participant in workouts in June, ahead of the draft.

The 6-foot-6 point guard was injured in Game 1 of the Adriatic League finals. Topic had returned to Crvena Zvezda after spending the early part of the season playing for Mega Bemax.

Topic is considered a top-five pick by most draft experts. Some even have him in consideration to go as high as the second pick. The 18-year-old missed four-and-a-half months earlier this season with an injury to same knee he injured on Monday.

Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz are expected to agree to a long-term contract extension on Wednesday or later, which will make him ineligible for a trade during the 24-25 season. The Jazz hold $33 million in cap space they can use to increase Markkanen’s contract for the 24-25 season to maximize his earnings. Markkanen’s deal is projected to be worth upwards of $200 million over five years and will keep him under contract through 2029.

If Markkanen would have signed the extension on Tuesday, he could have been traded at the deadline.

The Jazz held Markkanen trade conversations with several serious suitors over the last month, including the San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. The Warriors made the most aggressive offer with Moses Moody, multiple first round picks, pick swaps and second round picks offered.

The Jazz acquired Markkanen as part of the 2022 trade of Donovan Mitchell and emerged as a franchise cornerstone.