Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[dirkfansince1998]

Just in: Detroit Pistons All-Defensive forward Ausar Thompson has reached agreement on a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale contract extension, sources tell ESPN.
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Ausar Thompson gets paid.    The Thompson kids are having a nice offseason.  Both are good to really good, but a fatal flaw will need to be corrected for either to be truly elite players. 

For Detroit (with the assumption Duren signs eventually), they are a team that should win plenty.    Another guy to pair with Cade is the clear thing that is missing.  How they find that player will eventually decide how good they can become.  Duren and Thompson as your 3rd and 4h is good.  I less like them if one needs to be their #2.

Playoffs in the east featured some of the worst slugfests I can remember and I don't think the worst culprits (Pistons and Magic) improved their half court offense. Duren has a lot to prove no matter where he ends up. From all-NBA to losing his minutes to Paul Reed. Thompson needs to find a role off the ball. Simply cannot get away with two non shooters these days.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I believe the East will be more competitive this year, than in recent years. A lot of teams have improved, and some major stars are coming back from injuries.

[SleepingHero]

[Charania] Just in: Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George has agreed on a five-year, $157.5 million rookie-scale contract extension with the franchise, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon.

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He impressed me last year, but of course the Utah games were glorified scrimmages.  It will be interesting to see if his play carries over for winning basketball.

The Jazz are a real interesting team.  Unfortunately, their tanking finally worked and seems primed to make a jump.  How high is tbd.

I feel like thats a complete overpay in this day and age. 

But the Jazz must really believe in him. I can't say anything about his game has been standout. Almost 32 mil a year means he has to be better than average/sub all-star for the entirety of the contract.

[Chicagojk]

[Charania] The Detroit Pistons have recently offered Jalen Duren a 5-year, $200 million contract. Detroit and Duren remain at an impasse. Duren has felt disrespected by Detroit since becoming extension eligible and being offered a $20 million “take it or leave it” deal.


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I have to believe he eventually takes this. It seems like him playing hardball has worked. 5 years at 200 million seems like a little over pay by his playoff performance. I think he has a lot of talent and could live up to that, but he needs to show it next year. 200 million is life changing and could have another big pay day or two left after.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

With Duren known to be displeased during the process, in addition to the prospect of him taking a one-year qualifying offer ($9.6 million) before the Oct. 1 deadline, the move marked the first sign of progress in nearly six weeks. But Duren, who is eligible to receive a five-year, $287 million deal and was known to be seeking a contract worth at least $200 million, has thus far rebuffed the offer. With the two sides having gone weeks on end without communicating during this process, the waiting game continues as the season nears. Duren’s confidence is born out of the fact that his market for next summer looks quite robust. As The Athletic previously reported, the Sacramento Kings have signaled a willingness to pay him a max salary deal next summer. That alone has aided his leverage, but there are at least two other teams — including the Milwaukee Bucks — that are known to have serious interest in Duren (both now and, potentially, next summer).

New York Times

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Brad Rowland: Major Hawks injury news… Henri Veesaar was diagnosed with a torn right ACL. Veesaar will undergo surgery with Dr. Kyle Hammond at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in October and is expected to miss the 2026-27 season.

bsky.app

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
The Atlanta Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, sources tell ESPN.

[cow]

@ShamsCharania
The Atlanta Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, sources tell ESPN.

Can we bring Ryan back?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

@ShamsCharania
The Atlanta Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, sources tell ESPN.

DFS is getting passed around like a box of Cracker Jacks. Has he lost his 3&D chops?

[cow]

DFS is getting passed around like a box of Cracker Jacks. Has he lost his 3&D chops?

I think it's a case of some people just belong where they are and when displaced, never really catch their grove again.  A combination of being heartbroken and a team know the ins and outs of a player and playing towards those strengths.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams on Kawhi extending his contract with the Raptors: "My understanding is that he fully expects to retire and finish his career in Toronto, and this deal allows him to do that"

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Yossi Gozlan: The Hawks resolve their roster crunch heading into the season but inch closer to the luxury tax line ($1.7 million below). The Hornets create a $4.5 million trade exception but complicate their roster crunch. They’re also now at the 21-player maximum for the offseason. Marc Stein: UPDATE: Ryan Nembhard is expected to have multiple suitors on potential two-ways if he is indeed waived by Charlotte. sources say, with the Nuggets prime among them. Nembhard had a 28-and-10 game in Denver as a rookie and a 23-assist game against Chicago in the season finale. Hawks are taking on about $2.4M by acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith for Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard. Atlanta will be about $1.4M under the luxury tax with 15 players on standard contracts. Hornets will have 18 players on standard deals, necessitating three waivers.

x.com

[Chicagojk]

Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7621957/2026/09/23/bucks-gary-trent-jr-nba-investigation-kawhi-clippers-comparison/?unlocked_article_code=1.DVE.YJdH.f8-r6qGtLCbD&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

If league investigators find proof that the Bucks and Trent are guilty of what the Clippers and Leonard were guilty of, the punishment could be equally severe, if not worse.

An NBA spokesman said the league’s investigation into Trent’s contract is ongoing and declined to answer further questions. The Bucks and Klutch Sports Group — Trent’s representing agency — have declined comment, but two sources with direct knowledge of the interviews taking place as part of the investigation said both the Bucks and Klutch are cooperating.

The NBA hired national investigations law firm Hecker Fink to examine the circumstances surrounding Trent’s contract. The league typically hires white-shoe firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz for work like this, but two concurrent cap-circumvention cases are atypical.

The details that caught the NBA’s attention regarding Trent’s deal are this: Trent, 27, had signed two prior contracts for much less money with Milwaukee amid the previous two summers of 2024 and 2025 (including for the league minimum in 2024). There were player options attached to both deals, and he declined them both, setting up larger paydays. The first was a modest increase, with his 2025-26 salary jumping from $2.6 million to $3.7 million. Then, in the run-up to his new contract, which will pay him more than $15 million annually, he muddled through his worst statistical campaign since his rookie campaign from eight years ago. Trent averaged 8.1 points on 39 percent shooting in 21 minutes per game.

[Chicagojk]

Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7621957/2026/09/23/bucks-gary-trent-jr-nba-investigation-kawhi-clippers-comparison/?unlocked_article_code=1.DVE.YJdH.f8-r6qGtLCbD&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

If league investigators find proof that the Bucks and Trent are guilty of what the Clippers and Leonard were guilty of, the punishment could be equally severe, if not worse.

An NBA spokesman said the league’s investigation into Trent’s contract is ongoing and declined to answer further questions. The Bucks and Klutch Sports Group — Trent’s representing agency — have declined comment, but two sources with direct knowledge of the interviews taking place as part of the investigation said both the Bucks and Klutch are cooperating.

The NBA hired national investigations law firm Hecker Fink to examine the circumstances surrounding Trent’s contract. The league typically hires white-shoe firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz for work like this, but two concurrent cap-circumvention cases are atypical.

The details that caught the NBA’s attention regarding Trent’s deal are this: Trent, 27, had signed two prior contracts for much less money with Milwaukee amid the previous two summers of 2024 and 2025 (including for the league minimum in 2024). There were player options attached to both deals, and he declined them both, setting up larger paydays. The first was a modest increase, with his 2025-26 salary jumping from $2.6 million to $3.7 million. Then, in the run-up to his new contract, which will pay him more than $15 million annually, he muddled through his worst statistical campaign since his rookie campaign from eight years ago. Trent averaged 8.1 points on 39 percent shooting in 21 minutes per game.

I sort of struggle with this.   I mean it stinks and it should probably be punished.  Although, actually having to pay Trent his contract  seems like a punishment.  I understand circumvention and this is probably clearly that.    If nothing is in writing it gets a little tricky though.    I mean the Bucks were limited in what they could offer Trent.    Saying their could be a bigger payday for him if he signed with them and Trent taking the gamble that the money would eventually come seems less serious than Leonard.   Maybe I am wrong.    I guess I would feel different if it was for a much better player...but I am not sure.

[Chicagojk]

Can we bring Ryan back?

I think we could but I don't expect that to happen.  Ryan has been passed around this offseason.   I think he is an NBA player, although probably will need to keep grinding a two way player rather than a full NBA contract.   I think Denver would be a nice fit.   I don't think Tyus Jones has much left...per his past two seasons.    Ryan will need to keep his head down and just stick around.    As a two way guy, every week is important to not get moved on from.   If you can stick around, you eventually find a role a lot of times.    It is tough though.

[michaeltex]

I sort of struggle with this.   I mean it stinks and it should probably be punished.  Although, actually having to pay Trent his contract  seems like a punishment.  I understand circumvention and this is probably clearly that.    If nothing is in writing it gets a little tricky though.    I mean the Bucks were limited in what they could offer Trent.    Saying their could be a bigger payday for him if he signed with them and Trent taking the gamble that the money would eventually come seems less serious than Leonard.   Maybe I am wrong.    I guess I would feel different if it was for a much better player...but I am not sure.

To me the point is not so much what Trent was paid, but more about that under paying allowed the Bucks to do with the uncommitted cap space. I think that's a collusion space the Players Association doesn't want to promote. DAL did with Dirk, which I wasn't fond of, and the Knicks have gotten away with it (so far) with Brunson. I haven't heard of any 3rd party, behind-the-scenes payouts in any of these three cases though. 

I guess if Trent was willing to risk his longer term financial health by giving MKE a discount, then it's his decision. I don't like it or agree with it, but guess it's no different than a veteran signing an ring-chaser contract.

[michaeltex]

Can we bring Ryan back?

In today's NBA, I think Ryan's biggest issue is the one thing you can't teach.

[omahen]

I sort of struggle with this.   I mean it stinks and it should probably be punished.  Although, actually having to pay Trent his contract  seems like a punishment.  I understand circumvention and this is probably clearly that.    If nothing is in writing it gets a little tricky though.    I mean the Bucks were limited in what they could offer Trent.    Saying their could be a bigger payday for him if he signed with them and Trent taking the gamble that the money would eventually come seems less serious than Leonard.   Maybe I am wrong.    I guess I would feel different if it was for a much better player...but I am not sure.

This here is basically a Josh Smith case. Players and teams are not permitted to sign lower deals with agreements about future higher deals. This is salary cap circumvention. Player is allowed to take less, that is his choice. But they are not allowed to do it under the promise/deal about higher future salary, once circumstances allows it. Trent case stinks very much that such an agreement was in place. 

Of course in Josh Smith case, the league found the under the table contract. Without some written evidence (I don't think it needs to be a contract, it is probably enough that someone wrote an e-mail saying that such an agreement exists), it will be probably impossible to impose a penalty.

I agree that league should be very strict about this and a very serious and thorough investigation is the must they need to do. The message is clear by just conducting an extremely thorough investigation, especially after Kawhi case. Don't play around because you risk to be severly punished! This will make everyone think very hard if they really want to play around and risk the medium term future of the team as well as all the people involved (player, personnel, owner, agent,...)

We will see, if they find evidence or not. It might be very possible they do. There is big money at stake here and I am not sure players and their agents would be enthusiastic about taking much less money for  a couple of years with just a wink-wink promise they will be taken care of in the future. Or some eager personel wrote some e-mails disclosing too much.

[cow]

In today's NBA, I think Ryan's biggest issue is the one thing you can't teach.

Especially on a Ujiri team and I mostly agree, but our guard lineup is so anemic.

[Moviemavguy]

Ryan was just awful in the summer league. That sealed his fate.