Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

That's an interesting opt out.  His agent must know something. 

Maybe the Wizards wants to sign him to a longer deal at a lower AAV. And Marc Spears just made up the part about multiple teams interested at the max. I can't imagine that.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

In addition, the Hawks hope to retain center Landale in free agency. Landale spent this past season with the Memphis Grizzlies and Hawks, averaging career-highs in points (10.6), rebounds (5.7), and minutes (22.1), while shooting an efficient 51.5 percent from the field and 38.3 percent beyond the arc. Numerous teams are expected to express interest in the 30-year-old center.

HoopsHype

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Furthermore, Atlanta has a $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season on Kuminga, who scored 40 combined points in two Hawks wins against the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks have conducted their due diligence and gauged Kuminga’s value on the trade market ahead of the draft, league sources told HoopsHype. With that said, the 23-year-old forward returning to the Hawks next season remains a real possibility.

HoopsHype

[HoosierDaddyKid]

With Charlotte considering a starting-caliber center upgrade, other centers besides Sabonis are on their radar, including Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, it’s worth noting that the Nets have expressed interest in Hornets free agent guard Coby White in the past when he was on the Chicago Bulls, sources said. In other Hornets news, assistant coach Zach Peterson is a candidate to become the franchise’s next head coach of their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. DJ Bakker, who’s been an assistant coach for the Hornets and head coach of the Swarm in the G League, is a candidate to join Sean Sweeney’s staff as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, league sources told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Detroit executive Trajan Langdon publicly expressed his desire to retain forward Tobias Harris, who was the team’s second-leading scorer in the playoffs. The Pistons will also work with Jalen Duren on a new deal amid his restricted free agency. In addition, a Reaves pursuit would require more acrobatics than Simone Biles in the Olympics. Detroit would have to pick up the $4 million team option on Daniss Jenkins, renounce cap holds on Harris, Kevin Huerter, and Malik Beasley, waive Duncan Robinson, likely trade Caris LeVert and one of Paul Reed or Marcus Sasser, and decline Tolu Smith’s $2.4 million team option to be able to offer Reaves a max contract, as outlined by salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan.
On the other hand, Duren is only 22 and coming off an All-Star regular season, and cap-room teams like Brooklyn and Chicago will be circling with offer sheets if the Pistons get cold feet. A five-year, $200 million deal would value him at $40 million a year and keep him in Detroit through much of his prime; that feels like a potential endpoint.


HoopsHype

[Mavs2021]

With Charlotte considering a starting-caliber center upgrade, other centers besides Sabonis are on their radar, including Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, it’s worth noting that the Nets have expressed interest in Hornets free agent guard Coby White in the past when he was on the Chicago Bulls, sources said. In other Hornets news, assistant coach Zach Peterson is a candidate to become the franchise’s next head coach of their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. DJ Bakker, who’s been an assistant coach for the Hornets and head coach of the Swarm in the G League, is a candidate to join Sean Sweeney’s staff as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, league sources told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype

Makes zero sense for me to rush this. You got #14/#18 which likely means you can get two of Mara, Ament, Lendeborg, Johnson, Steinbach, Quaintance, Cenac. Ball/Knueppel/Miller/Johnson/Steinbach would be a great young core. Why invest assets into somebody like Sabonis?

[Knutsen]

Get well soon.  I think all of us use this as a distraction from the real world.

Wait, what - this isn’t the real world for you and it’s just me living here…? :o

All the best for your surgery, mate!

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

They were only interested in Sabonis as a salary dump. Reports are they aren't trading any 1sts for him.

Also, most of these guys between 10-20 in the draft are going to be busts. It always looks good on paper to type out xyz core but rarely does it work out that way. Lamelo, Brandon Miller, and Kon are ready to take the next step this season. Whoever they draft at 14 or 18 is very unlikely to be their starting center this season.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Tim MacMahon: The Jazz are determined to keep Walker Kessler. Now, there is a gulf between the Jazz front office and Walker Kessler's camp in terms of his value. The Jazz have put it off on the table for five years and roughly $140 million. Walker Kessler's representation believes his value is significantly higher than that. There were discussions with the Indiana Pacers before they traded for Zubac about trading for Kessler, giving up two first-round picks and signing him to a deal that would have been north of that. The Jazz have also been very firm: They want a five-year deal, they want a five-year commitment. Kessler is a restricted free agent. The Jazz would have the right to match any offer that he received in restricted free agency, and they're using that leverage. These are tense negotiations.

YouTube

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Marc J. Spears on Kyrie Irving: I do think he'll be back on the roster. I know their owner is really, really high on seeing him and Cooper Flagg play together. And then Masai Ujiri had said in his introductory press conference that he wanted to see that as well.

YouTube

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Lu Dort, Oklahoma City (TO): $17,705,328 It seems unlikely that the Thunder can continue with Dort next season. They have multiple players at his position who are both better and younger, the team is set to be $40 million over the projected luxury tax line and Dort is coming off an off-year in which he was ineffective in the Western Conference finals. The Thunder’s most likely pathway out would be to trade him for a second-round pick or two and generate a $17 million trade exception.

New York Times

[HoosierDaddyKid]

According to unofficial information from the USA that has crossed the Atlantic to Meridian Sports, Denver is impatiently waiting for 12:01 on the quartz clock on June 30 (Eastern American time) to start hunting Bogdan Bogdanovic!
Bogdan Bogdanovic stands at the center of a looming free agency chase by the Denver Nuggets, as reported by Serbian outlet Meridian Sport’s Djordje Matic on Thursday. The Nuggets are eagerly anticipating the June 30 opening of the free-agent market to bolster their championship ambitions ahead of the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season. The front office is prioritizing the Serbian guard due to his proven synergy with fellow countryman and superstar Nikola Jokic. They recognize that their on-court chemistry, built during successful runs with the Serbian senior national team, could significantly elevate the performance of the entire roster, as noted by Matic.

EuroHoops.net

[Mavs2021]

Lu Dort, Oklahoma City (TO): $17,705,328 It seems unlikely that the Thunder can continue with Dort next season. They have multiple players at his position who are both better and younger, the team is set to be $40 million over the projected luxury tax line and Dort is coming off an off-year in which he was ineffective in the Western Conference finals. The Thunder’s most likely pathway out would be to trade him for a second-round pick or two and generate a $17 million trade exception.

New York Times

Maybe should have played them then?   Dort´s value is being undersized and be allowed to relentlessly foul the other teams stars. Spurs have nobody that fits the mold. The NBA won´t allow him to injury fragile Wembanyama with his physical antics and SG to PF, the spots where Dort usually fouls operates is a wasteland on the Spurs. So maybe OKC figures Dort has no use against their projected main rival  San Antonio and therefore chose Hartenstein over Dort. I mean not much use in a Dort that can´t shoot and can´t get away with fouling.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

There are several restricted free agents the Lakers have already done their due diligence on, sources familiar with the team's thinking told ESPN. Two of them, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, would satisfy Doncic's directive to secure an A-list center. Two others, Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets and Tari Eason of the Rockets, are the type of 3-and-D archetypes who any team needs in order to succeed in the modern NBA.

ESPN

[loki]

There are several restricted free agents the Lakers have already done their due diligence on, sources familiar with the team's thinking told ESPN. Two of them, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, would satisfy Doncic's directive to secure an A-list center. Two others, Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets and Tari Eason of the Rockets, are the type of 3-and-D archetypes who any team needs in order to succeed in the modern NBA.

ESPN

I don't see how they land Duren or Kessler. There might be some tension between those players and their current teams over the exact $ amount, but I suspect they will be matched almost no matter what.

Watson would be a solid addition if Denver can't shed enough salary to match. I suspect they'll be able to move Cam Johnson and Zeke Nnaji though. If LA goes the Eason route I think they'll regret paying him pretty quickly.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Lakers has very limited assets, Ayton or maybe Gafford are their best options.

Nothing special of course, in PO they are just mediocre Cs.

If Pelinka the Genius will resign AR and LeBron they are done.

Good LeBron farewell tour Luka...

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Bobby Marks: Speaking of paying, we're going to probably have an eye on Karl-Anthony Towns. He is extension eligible. Jay, how about this number? Four years, $272 million. That is what Towns is extension eligible for. He's got two years left. He's got a player option for that second year. They can negotiate right now and he can sign that on July 6th. That's the number to certainly keep an eye on. Remember Jalen Brunson had given back some money. Mikal Bridges, will there be a compromise with Towns? Josh Hart is also extension eligible. Also, McBride, but Towns is going to be the player to focus on when we're looking at that next big contract here.

YouTube

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Sam Amick: Right now, the sense is that if the Bucks, since it's just me talking, like if the Bucks said all right, Jaylen Brown for Giannis straight up, I think the deal is done. I think the Celtics don't think they should be having to put much if anything else in there. But what tugs at me and I guess why Lou answered the question that way is that like something is driving the Celtics to be interested, right? And they were interested at the deadline. And two things can be true. They can have the utmost respect and love for Jaylen Brown and the player he has become. But I'm one of those kind of actions over words people, and it's like something is keeping the Celtics inspired to remain in this conversation instead of just heading back to their corner and rocking with their team. I feel like maybe they do enough at the last minute to get the deal done, but the safe answer is Miami.

YouTube

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Sactown Sports 1140: “[Zach LaVine and his agency] are not leaving that money on the table. So, he's not opting out." @sam_amick joined @CarmichaelDave & @JasonRoss1140 to share his intel on Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine's pending $49 million player option:

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Among the team’s priorities is retaining center Jalen Duren, who is eligible for a contract extension. “I want him here,” Trajan Langdon said. “We really want JD to be here.” "We feel he isn't close to touching the depth of his potential."
Asked about what type of players they’ll look to target to address the playmaking component, he cited – along with 3-point shooting – as a priority need, he said, “Spacing the floor is huge and giving more optionality on the offensive end to have more creativity. When you have more ball-handlers and more shooting, that opens it up for our three best players. Those are the things we’re looking at. Can we fill that with two players, or with one? Do we do it on the perimeter, with a big? We’ll look at all of those things.” The Pistons, I'm told, should be monitored as a potential third-team facilitator in a Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-Miami trade ... with Tyler Herro ultimately landing in Detroit. Other players regarded as potentially available and said to interest Detroit include Charlotte's Coby White, Oklahoma City's Isaiah Joe, and possibly even Sacramento's Zach LaVine now that LaVine is heading into the final year of a massive contract with a $49 million player option that carries a June 29 deadline to be activated.


marcstein.substack.com