Nov 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
NBA Free Agency opens up on Tuesday as teams across the league are looking to find their missing pieces to make a run in the league next season.
With plenty of former Kentucky Wildcats scattered across the NBA, it is one former No. 1 overall pick that could make some noise in free agency this season. That would be none other than Anthony Davis.
Shams Charania brought the scoop on Monday as the first piece of a very intricate puzzle fell into place. That was none other than Draymond Green declining his player option for this coming season.
What did it open up? A potential trade for Anthony Davis and a potential free agent signing of LeBron James.
The opt-out comes days after the Warriors said they expect Green to pick up the $27.7M option. Instead Green delivers Golden State time and space to pursue Davis with the Wizards and convince James to join Stephen Curry, Green and his old Lakers championship teammate in the Bay. https://t.co/uNMngqPSw2
This would already add to a wild offseason that has seen star players like LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant get traded, but it is definitely one that I would wait until it actually gets some more legs.
After adding AJ Dybantsa and re-signing Trae Young, it feels like the Wizards are ready to make a playoff push now. Could the Warriors sweeten the pot for a deal that would send AD to the Bay Area? It sounds like they could trade Jimmy Butler, who may miss the entire 2026-27 season due to ACL surgery, to Washington for AD, as the two players have nearly identical cap hits.
A lot has to happen for this potential dream team to come to fruition, but if it does, a Steph Curry, LeBron, and AD team sounds like a lot of fun.
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 23: Jalen Duren #0 and Daniss Jenkins #24 of the Detroit Pistons high five before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers have inserted themselves into one of the biggest developing stories in the hours leading up to free agency.
Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren has a planned call with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, a league source confirmed to ESPN (@sam_amick first). However DET thus far is uninterested in pursuing a sign and trade with their All-Star big man, sources said.
Earlier in the day on Monday, Sam Amick of The Athleticalso reported that Duren and the Pistons were not close on a contract and that the big man would explore sign-and-trade scenarios, including meeting with the Kings.
All-NBA forward Jalen Duren was underwhelmed by the Detroit Pistons’ initial offer in restricted free agency and is planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios when they are permitted on Tuesday, league sources told The Athletic.
It’s not hard to see why the two sides would be far apart in negotiations. During the regular season, Duren was one of the best big men in the league, earning Third Team All-NBA honors while averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 65% from the field.
But once the playoffs rolled around, Duren became a shell of himself, averaging 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and shooting 51.4% from the field. He was a huge reason for an underwhelming postseason performance from the Pistons, as they needed seven games to beat the Magic before losing in seven games to Cleveland.
Detroit is likely negotiationg from a standpoint of his postseason performance while Duren and his agent are negotiating from the standpoint of his regular season performance. For now, that gap is big enough for Duren to look elsewhere.
Still, this is restricted free agency and Detroit still holds the power. Even in a sign-and-trade scenario, the Pistons are going to have to get value back as they can simply just match Duren’s offer sheet and bring him back.
But that things have gotten to this point is notable.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors and head coach Steve Kerr stand on the sideline in overtime against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on November 02, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The debates about Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors will never end. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west, oceans will rise and fall, empires will crumble, the sand will inexorably pour down the hourglass of life, and someone will still be arguing about whether Kuminga earned more minutes than Steve Kerr gave him.
Now, Kuminga’s final contract with the Warriors is officially over, as the Atlanta Hawks declined to pick up the 23-year-old’s $24.3M team option for 2026-27. The move doesn’t necessarily close the door on Kuminga to return to the club at a lower salary, but the Hawks did give Kuminga what the Warriors refused to: The chance to pick his next team.
The Atlanta Hawks are declining Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million team option, making him a free agent, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Zu57MTTp3g
There’s conflicting reports about the league-wide interest in Kuminga. Marc J. Spears says the Sacramento Kings are still interested in Kuminga, though they can only offer him $2.6M. Yes, much like when they proposed a trade of Dario Saric and Devin Carter for Kuminga last summer, the Kings have very little to offer for Kuminga. Sam Amick reports that the Kings are out on Kuminga, perhaps out of a wildly optimistic hope they can trade for Jalen Duren.
Kuminga had some big moments for the Hawks after heading to Atlanta alongside Buddy Hield in a deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors. He put up 19 and 21 points in the Hawks two wins over the New York Knicks, helping to deal the eventual champions two of the three losses they’d suffer in the entire playoffs. Kuminga averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, upping his three-point shooting to 34.6 percent, and eventually moved ahead of 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher in the Hawks rotation.
At the same time, Kuminga was limited by injuries, something that plagued him during his 2024-25 season with the Warriors as well. He played in 16 of 29 possible regular-season games for the Hawks. After missing 35 games the season before, Atlanta may have been understandably hesitant to pay Kuminga such a large sum, especially at $10M more than Nickeil Alexander-Walker and $16M more than newly-acquired three-and-D wing Aaron Wiggins.
This could be beneficial for Kuminga in the long term. He may not be getting the payday he wanted or expected — Kuminga reportedly turned down an offer for more than $100M when he became extension-eligible in 2024 — but at least he can choose a team that truly wants him.
It can’t have been easy for Kuminga last season, with the Warriors clearly only viewing him as a trade chip. The nature of restricted free agency meant that Kuminga remained in limbo all summer, hoping some team would make him an offer despite his old team threatening to match any offer. In the second-apron era, there are fewer teams than ever with salary cap space, further chilling the market. That also means Kuminga’s best hope this summer might be convincing a team to offer him the mid-level exception, which is $15M for non-taxpaying teams this summer.
In other Hawks news, the team guaranteed Buddy Hield’s full $9.66M salary for next season, rather than buy him out for $3M. It probably means they want to use his contract in a future trade, but good for Hield for getting the remainder of the proverbial bag.
All in all, the Kuminga trade has to be considered a solid win for Mike Dunleavy, Jr, & Co., after Porzingis agreed to a two-year, $40M contract Monday. Of course, waiting until February 2026 to trade Kuminga still goes down as a solid loss.
We would like to wish Kuminga luck in his next endeavors. He’s an exciting player, a world-class dunker, and a guy who contributed to an NBA title despite being in a less-than-ideal situation for five seasons. Kuminga is at a career crossroads, but wherever he ends up, we’d love to see him prove the Warriors wrong.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 12: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards watches from the bench during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on April 12, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wizards fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
So, you saw the news. Anthony Davis could go to the Golden State Warriors. Could he be traded there or to any of the other 28 teams not named the Warriors or Wizards? Vote below!
Hopefully Shams Charania won’t make this a NULL AND VOID SURVEY BY THE TIME THIS PUBLISHES OR SOMETIME TUESDAY!
Jun 2, 2026; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) smiles during media day for the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Spurs have wasted no time with the negotiation period for their own free agents. After agreeing to new three-year deal with Julian Champagnie, ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that Harrison Barnes will return to the Spurs on a one-year, $8 million deal. He reports that the Spurs valued “his leadership and production” when negotiating the new deal.
Free agent forward Harrison Barnes intends to sign a one-year, $8 million deal to stay with the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell ESPN. The Spurs valued Barnes' leadership and production as he enters a third season in San Antonio, finalizing a new deal with agent Jeff Schwartz of… pic.twitter.com/FzPv5mqoHm
The move will ensure Barnes returns to the Spurs for a third season. He was acquired via trade in 2024 as part of a three-way trade that sent DeMar DeRozan from the Bulls to the Kings. Barnes started in all 82 games in the 2024-25 season for the Spurs to continue a streak of three straight iron man seasons. He started this season as their starting power forward and looked on track to continue that trend. He was red hot from three through the first third of the regular season, living up to his nickname of “Mr. 100%” before his shooting fell off, and he was eventually benched in favor of Champagnie as the Spurs looked for answers during a tough January stretch. Barnes would eventually miss five games with an ankle injury to end his streak of 82-game seasons.
He eventually fell out of the main rotation all together as Mitch Johnson seemed to value Carter Bryant getting more developmental time, even in the playoffs. As a result, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see Barnes test the free agency market, but it’s quite possible that at 34 years old, there may not have been a huge market out there, and he very well may value the Spurs as much as they do him, as well as the possibility of winning another ring.
With these two moves, it’s quite possible the Spurs are aware that the power forward market is a bit dry or outside of their price range. While this doesn’t mean they won’t make any major moves or trades in free agency, the fact that they’re bringing back last season’s rotation shows that they’re prepared to run it back as a worst-case scenario, and provided Bryant continues to improve, bringing back a rotation that went to the finals and was a few blown leads from winning it all isn’t a bad thing.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Free agent center Kristaps Porziņģis has accepted a two-year, $40 million contract to remain with the Golden State Warriors, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. This will see him potentially stay with the Warriors through the 2027-28 season, with the second year of the extension being a player option.
Free agent center Kristaps Porzingis has agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract extension to return to the Golden State Warriors through 2027-28, with a player option in the second season, agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NZngN3Qv7x
In 15 games with the Warriors, Porziņģis averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks. He provided a dynamic element for the Warriors as a 7-foot-3 stretch five, albeit limited by lack of availability due to illness. The Warriors are hoping that Porziņģis — under the care of Rick Celebrini — will be more available next season.
Apr 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng (21) during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Milwaukee Bucks have pulled their qualifying offer for former first-round pick Ousmane Dieng. Per Salary Swish, Dieng’s qualifying offer would’ve paid him $9.6 million for one season.
After being acquired at the trade deadline in a three-team deal, Dieng played in 30 games in Milwaukee (starting in 20 of them), averaging 26.8 MPG, 11.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, shooting 42.3% from the field and 33.1% from beyond the arc.
This was the first time in his career that Dieng had any extended playing time in meaningful minutes. During his days with the Oklahoma City Thunder, his highest average minutes were 19.3 MPG. The young Frenchman showed flashes of his potential as an offensive creator with the Bucks, scoring a career-high 36 points and adding 10 assists in a close loss to the Houston Rockets on April 1. It wasn’t always pretty for Dieng, though, as he had seven games with four or more turnovers, including a seven-turnover game against the Brooklyn Nets.
While Dieng will hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent (UFA), that doesn’t rule out a return to Cream City, as the Bucks own his bird rights and can give him any amount of money they would like. Considering the Bucks weren’t willing to give him the qualifying offer outright, I imagine it will be less than that $9.6m figure. With Giannis gone and the Bucks headed towards a youth movement, I would hazard that Dieng is back in Milwaukee, as he’ll have a much bigger role than on some other teams.
Brew Hoop community, how do you feel about Dieng becoming an UFA? Let us know in the comments section below.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons waits during the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons are apparently on the verge of losing All-NBA center Jalen Duren as negotiations on a new contract have apparently reached a breaking point. It’s progressed to Duren planning to meet with the Sacramento Kings when free agency officially begins on Tuesday. That report comes from Chris Haynes. Earlier reports from The Athletic said Duren and the Pistons were far apart in negotiations and that Duren would look to engineer a sign-and-trade to secure a big payday outside Detroit.
“Due to sizable distance apart in negotiations, Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren will meet with the Sacramento Kings at the start of free agency with the intentions of structuring a sign-&-trade out of Detroit,” Haynes reported on social media.
BREAKING: Due to sizable distance apart in negotiations, Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren will meet with the Sacramento Kings at the start of free agency with the intentions of structuring a sign-&-trade out of Detroit. pic.twitter.com/rzUZWy2iJF
Still just 22 years old, Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 65% from the floor in his All-Star season with the Pistons. Because Duren made an All-NBA team, he is eligible for a supermax extension while it was reported the Pistons were angling to sign him for less than max with number floated at between $35-$40 million per year.
It’s important to note that the Pistons would need to find a deal construction that they are amenable to because the Kings don’t have the money to sign Duren in free agency. They are over the cap, so if Duren wants to sign with the Kings and the Kings want to sign Duren, they need to send assets back to Detroit.
While that gives Detroit considerable leverage, the Kings will be operating on the premise that a reunion between the Pistons and Duren would be untenable.
It’s also important to note that Duren only counts for half his new salary in a sign-and-trade deal, and that makes salary matching more complicated.
If the Kings sign Duren for $45 million, they will want to send $45 million back to Detroit, but only $22.5 million of that number would be applied to Duren. That would mean Detroit would attach more assets to send Sacramento’s way. I would imagine Caris LeVert would be a likely candidate.
So what assets do the Kings have to offer? They are awash in funky players and contracts. The conversation begins with Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento’s offensively gifted, defensively challenged center. He has two years of $45 million and $48 million remaining.
With the trade of Isaiah Stewart already locked in, losing Duren would mean Detroit would be looking at starting Paul Reed if they don’t make an addition at the big man spot. Sabonis
They also have DeMar DeRozan, an undersized veteran who could play power forward and handle some of the scoring and ball-handling load. He makes $25 million and only $10 million is guaranteed. Zach LaVine is an expiring $48 million deal and is yet another offensively gifted, defensively challenged player (to put it mildly).
Keegan Murray is a young piece that might provide some actual value, and he runs between $24 million and $31 million each of the next five seasons.
There is also nothing saying that this can’t be expanded to include multiple teams if a player like Murray or Sabonis isn’t what Detroit would be looking for. This also might be a bit of last-minute posturing as Detroit and Duren make their final plays before settling into a new long-term pact.
This is a developing story that has the potential to significantly alter the makeup of the Pistons. Stay tuned.
Dang I wonder what the LA Clippers are up to after the Golden State Warriors buried their season last year! Continuing our Rival Report series, we’re getting you up to speed on Pacific Division foes’ moves in the draft so you can know who the heck they’re loading up with for the future.
It’s time to check out the fascinating situation with the Clips.
First, some necessary context. Yes, the Warriors sent the Clippers home in the play-in tournament last April. We remember. More importantly, so do they. But knocking a team out of a play-in game also means they weren’t good enough to avoid one. The Clippers finished 42-40, started the season 6-21, and mounted a genuinely impressive second-half run that ended the moment real stakes arrived. They showed you something; but was nowhere near enough.
That tension is what the entire offseason is built around. Seems like we’re pretty close to the end of the Kawhi Leonard-era in LA. Kawhi is entering the final year of his deal at $50.3 million, coming off a career-high 27.9 points per game season, and the exit signs are everywhere.
This is what a franchise transition looks like when nobody wants to say it out loud yet. Which brings us to Keaton Wagler. A 19-year-old guard from Shawnee, Kansas who entered college ranked 261st in his recruiting class. That kind of rise doesn’t happen by accident. One season at Illinois later, he’s the fifth pick in the country, the Jerry West Award winner, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and the author of a 46-point game against Purdue where he went 9-for-11 from three. He led the Illini to their first Final Four since 2005 while averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 44.5% shooting from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc. This is the franchise’s highest selection since Blake Griffin went first overall in 2009.
Keaton Wagler is a 6’6” point guard who is a triple-double threat and possibly the best shooter in the class
His incredible shooting, court vision, and rebounding has landed him 5th overall to the Los Angeles Clippers pic.twitter.com/sj33Ct7qYC
Every evaluator comes back to the same point. He already plays like an NBA guard. The vision is real. The handle is tight. He drills pull-up threes, makes the right read under pressure, and does it all while playing off the ball, which matters enormously next to Darius Garland. The concerns are legitimate too. He weighed 188 pounds at the combine. He barely ran a fast break all season. The floor will get faster and the bodies will get bigger and strength is the work that’s ahead of him. But the floor is high because the tools are real.
The second round added frontcourt depth in Baba Miller and Nick Martinelli, a direct acknowledgment that the center position is where this roster breaks down most visibly. The draft-and-stash of French center Narcisse Ngoy, who heads to Auburn next season before his NBA rights ever get exercised, is the kind of patient asset management you do when you’re thinking in years, not months.
The honest counterpoint is that losing Kawhi might actually accelerate the thing they’re already building. And even the people who cover this team closest seem to understand that. Robert Flom at 213hoops, one of the sharpest Clippers-specific voices in the game, laid out the offseason roster picture plainly after the draft concluded:
Considering Wagler will play a lot of shooting guard next to Garland, and Sanders, Christie, and Miller can play up or down, the Clippers are relatively set at wing, even if they probably would prefer to bring Dunn off the bench. Garland and Wagler together also make the Clippers ready to go at point guard, though they could probably use a third-string veteran in case of injury.
The obvious areas of need are in the frontcourt, especially considering Yanic’s injury and Baba Miller probably not being ready for NBA rotation minutes. Bringing back John Collins and Brook Lopez would pretty much round out the roster, but that would mean running back the same team from last year, more or less, with only the draft picks being new pieces of note. I can’t see the Clippers going in that direction based on how they’ve talked about their roster and pivoting towards more of a Garland-centric timeline.
The Clippers are molting as the Kawhi-era begins to evaporate dramatically. It’s being replaced, piece by piece, with something younger and leaner and less certain. Wagler and Garland are a real backcourt and the draft capital is stacking. The plan is visible if you squint at it right.
Keep your friends close. Keep the Clippers close enough to know that the most dangerous version of this team isn’t the one saying goodbye to Kawhi Leonard. It’s the one that’s already moved on without admitting it. In the NBA, “not yet” has a funny way of becoming “right now.”
The Ja Morant era in Memphis has officially come to an end.
The Grizzlies have been trying to find a trade for Morant for the better part of a year and finally found a deal they liked, partnering with the Portland Trail Blazers, a trade first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. The trade shakes out like this:
Portland receives: Ja Morant Memphis receives: Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
Since owner Tom Dundon bought the Trail Blazers during last season, he has wanted the team to make a bold move, a big splash signing or trade. That is exactly what it is — this is an aggressive swing for the fences, albeit one that carries some risk because of Morant's history of injuries and suspensions.
When he's at his best, Morant is one of the most explosive and entertaining players in the league, the 2020 Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star who still averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists a game last season.
While there have been questions about him having lost half a step, it's hard to judge because, due to injuries and suspensions, he has played in just 79 games across the last three seasons, including 20 last season.
Portland now has a backcourt of Morant, Damian Lillard (coming off a torn Achilles) and Jrue Holiday. Bringing in a veteran backcourt like that could leave Scoot Henderson as the odd man out (don't be surprised if other teams call and check on his availability).
Combine that backcourt with Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan up front, and this becomes one of the more interesting teams to watch this season. If new coach Micah Nori can bring it all together, this team could be entertaining and win a lot of games. But with Morant and Lillard leading the way, missed time due to injuries will be a concern.
This also means Portland is out of the mix to trade for Jaylen Brown, the team would have needed Grant's salary to match up for that deal (same with the Aaron Gordon rumors out there).
Memphis has been looking to pivot to a fresh start for a while now, particularly building around the just-drafted Cameron Boozer, and this is the clean slate they needed. It's not near the return Memphis may have originally hoped for when it made Morant available, but the return on this trade — with no draft picks — speaks to his market.
Grant had a bounce-back season last year, averaging 18.6 points a game and playing almost 30 minutes a night. That said, he could be traded again before the season because the Grizzlies are stacked along the front line with Zach Edey and Isaiah Stewart at the five, then at the forward spots there are Cedric Coward, Boozer, Santi Aldama, Taylor Hendricks, Jaylen Wells, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, GG Jackson, and the just-drafted Karim Lopez. That's an overload.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Kevin Huerter #27 of the Detroit Pistons plays against the Orlando Magic during game one of the first round of the eastern conference playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To paraphrase the words of international assassin hero John Wick, “Yeah, I’m thinking I’m running it back.”
The Detroit Pistons are re-signing free agent wing Kevin Huerter to a three-year, $27 million deal. That’s a decent return for a core rotation player and represents about a 40% paycut from the long-term deal Huerter just concluded.
The 6-foot-6 Huerter was acquired at the trade deadline for Jaden Ivey, Dario Saric, and a pick swap. Huerter played about 500 minutes across 25 games for the Pistons, averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Heurter started his career as a noted 3-point marksman, but the shot has abandoned him over the years, including his time in Detroit.
He shot just 29% from deep on over four attempts per game for the Pistons. He did shoot 61% on twos and has been a high-efficiency interior player because he knows how to take advantage of his opportunities.
It might be a sign that the Pistons are largely OK with running back a 60-win team and hoping the addition of another shooter — in this case Isaiah Joe, is the piece that makes everything else fall into place.
Or perhaps this is a precursor to something larger. The calm before the storm.
His shot has never looked broken, it’s just been unreliable. And even without his three going down consistently, he provides enough on both ends of the court to make him a valuable rotation piece. However, I struggle to understand a lineup that employs all three of Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, and Caris LeVert. Obviously, you’d take Robinson of any of the three, but it makes me wonder if Detroit is keeping Heurter because they have plans to route Robinson or LeVert in a separate deal.
The NBA off-season has officially started and we’ve already seen some pretty big moves just today: The Atlanta Hawks declined their option on Jonathan Kuminga’s contract making him a free agent, Andrew Wiggins signed a 3-year, $64 million deal to return to the Miami Heat, and the biggest of them all (so far) is that Ja Morant was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/FJOTzGe5Tr
While all of that is very exciting, and there will surely be more on the way (probably as I’m writing this article), we have to address our biggest elephant in the room: Walker Kessler. We’ve known for a while now that the Jazz front office and Kessler’s management team are not aligned in contract extension talks. Reportedly, Kessler and his camp want around $30 million a year and the Jazz are more comfortable offering around $22 million a year.
There is always the chance that Kessler signs the $7 million qualifying offer, which would allow us to have him on the roster next year but it would make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-2027 season. There’s a lot of salary cap science that goes into these kinds of decisions, but I think I can speak for most Jazz fans when I say that having Kessler on this team is better than not having him on this team.
It should be noted that, in theory, the Jazz could go over the $165 million salary cap and into the luxury tax/aprons by re-signing Kessler to the contract that he wants. When you have a player’s Bird rights you are 100% within your right to do that as an organization, the question then becomes “would the Jazz do it?”
I would love to live in a world where the answer is “yes” and we can see what a healthy squad can do now that we landed our big fish in Jaren Jackson Jr. and drafted Darryn Peterson with the #2 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, but someone has to keep their feet on the ground, and today that’s going to be me.
I want to brace for impact as much as possible, so if we can’t come to some sort of agreement with Kessler and his camp, I think we should be looking for some replacement options. Full disclosure – I don’t think that any of these would be able to be the same kind of player that Kessler is, but with the opportunity in front of us to win games and potentially make the playoffs, we have to do what we can to capitalize. Without further ado, here are some of the best (realistic) fits we could add to this team during the off-season, in my opinion.
Kevon Looney
It was recently announced that the Pelicans would not be bringing Looney back to New Orleans, so that means that his rebounding talents are up for grabs. He isn’t exactly a spring chicken, but he’s on the right side of 30 for now.
In very limited minutes last year (14 per game) he was able to pull down 5.6 rebounds a night, and considering that we now employ Jaren Jackson Jr., having someone who can do that specific thing is vital. If he’s given any sort of real minutes on this team he would be liable to grab 8+ rebounds a night. He would also bring a certain level of grit that this young team would benefit from.
Sandro Mamukelashvili
After declining his player option, Sandro is going to have plenty of suitors calling his line. He had a bit of a renaissance year averaging 11 points and 5 rebounds a night while shooting 38% from 3 in 80 games for the Raptors last year. He was also in contention for 6th Man of the Year for most of the season, and with an expanded role here I think that he could deliver even more.
With the league trending the way that it has for the past decade, providing elite spacing for your ultra gifted offensive players is paramount. If we could offer a lineup with spacing that includes Markkanen, JJJ, and Mamu, then guys like Ace Bailey, Keyonte George, and Darryn Peterson would have a field day. I’m not saying that I need it, but I kind of need it.
Jock Landale
Landale is in a very similar spot to Mamu; he had a great outing in Memphis and Atlanta last year, showed his scoring ability (10 PPG), his rebounding effort (5.7), and shot well from 3 (38% on 2.8 attempts a game). I think it would be a lot to ask Landale to be as good of a backup as Nurkic was last year, but he just might have to.
In an ideal world, Landale would be a compliment to our Center room including Kessler and Nurkic, but he may just have to step up if we call his name.
Neemias Queta
This one will need some outside interference to accomplish, but it isn’t outside the world of possibility. At the time of writing, the Boston Celtics just picked up the team option on his contract, but there has been a lot of smoke to the idea of Rudy Gobert making his way to Boston in exchange for Derrick White.
IF that were to happen, Queta becomes a bit redundant in their offense. I’ve written about Queta on my personal blog, and my feelings about him have only gotten stronger since publishing that piece. Queta became a full-time starter for the Celtics last year and averaged 10/8/1.3 blocks a night. He displayed much more rim presence than before, he’s an incredible lob threat, and he would be able to step into Kessler’s role effortlessly.
It would require trading someone like Brice Sensabaugh or Isaiah Collier to make the salaries match (not to mention the draft capital that Brad Stevens would extort), but again, desperate times.
Robert Williams III
For this last potential selection there are plenty of reasons to be worried, but if things worked out for us, we could be in a very good position.
In a bench role for the Trail Blazers last year (17 minutes per game), Time Lord averaged 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per night. He also managed to add to his game this deep into his career by shooting 39% from 3 (don’t get your hopes up too much, it was about 0.5 attempts a game).
The biggest, and most glaring, issue here is that he hasn’t been able to stay healthy for his career. He did play 59 games last year for Portland, but he’s only managed to play 50+ games in a season 3 times in 8 years, and the last time he did that prior to this year was the 2021-2022 season. I’m sure that Boston Celtics fans could tell you what I’m going to tell you now: the juice is worth the squeeze. Adding Time Lord to this team would only add dimensions to our offense and give another weapon to Keyonte George. It also gives our Center depth different looks and allows us to play different schemes with him and Nurkic. Time Lord’s ability to still be this effective of a defender despite all of his injury history is remarkable and I think that we could be the ones to benefit from the rest of the league’s skepticism. I mean, you watch the tape and tell me that you wouldn’t want to see him in Utah.
The off-season is just as fun as the regular and post-season for me, but how are you feeling about it? What trades do you expect to happen? Do you think that the Jazz can get active in the trade market? Sound off in the comments!
That ends a seven-year run for Morant in Memphis, a tenure that was marked by stark inconsistencies. After winning the Rookie of the Year award following his debut campaign in 2019-20, Morant flashed moments of basketball brilliance. But repeated off-court issues and injury concerns derailed his final seasons with the Grizzlies.
Here are grades for all parties in the Ja Morant trade to the Portland Trail Blazers:
For the most part, Morant’s market had dried up to the point that simply moving him is a measure of success. This is tough for any team: when it is forced to accept pennies on the dollar for a player who previously had plenty of promise and potential, it's going to be a difficult sell to fans.
But it became clear that Morant was no longer a long-term fit with the franchise. So moving off of the $87.1 million he was due over the next two seasons should be considered a win. Recouping any assets rather than letting him languish for two seasons and walk without anything in return is also a win.
Grant brings a veteran presence to an extremely young Grizzlies team that will need some help with ball handling and offensive creation. Grant averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds mostly off the bench in 2025-26. He’s under contract this season and has a $36.4 million player option for 2027-28. Murray is a reserve off the bench and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Honestly, neither player necessarily feels like a long-term piece for Memphis, which is fully rebuilding, and that’s fine. Considering that the objective was to reset the culture and move Morant, this deal got the job done.
Grade: C+
Portland Trail Blazers' Ja Morant trade grade
This is where the deal becomes more interesting. And, frankly, given Morant’s issues with availability, it makes it a little trickier to project.
Morant played just 20 games last season – though much of that appeared to be Memphis keeping him sidelined to preserve whatever shards of value Morant still had. In fact, he has played just 79 of a possible 246 games over the last three seasons, or a total of just 32.1% of possible games.
The most games Morant has ever played in a single season has been 67, during his rookie year.
Yet, Morant is still only 26 years old. In theory, he should have plenty of basketball left. If Portland can get Morant to mature and if he's able to find good luck with his health, this could be a solid low-cost move – at least in terms of assets shipped out.
Grant clearly was not a long-term fixture with the Trail Blazers and Murray is easily expendable.
The interesting thing is that now the Trail Blazers suddenly have an abundance of guards – and ones with talent. Morant’s weakness is his shooting. He’s best at getting to the rim, and his perimeter jumpers are shaky, at best. But if Portland starts him alongside sharpshooting point guard Damian Lillard, it could provide a compelling duo of shot creation. Lillard also masks Morant’s spotty jumper.
Morant, however, is a liability on defense, as is Lillard. This only puts even more pressure on centers Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams as rim protectors.
The other part about this is that with Lillard, Morant, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, who improved significantly last season as the year wore on, Portland now has players that it could potentially move in a complementary deal – say, one for Jaylen Brown?
If that’s the eventual end game, and the Morant deal facilitates that, then it’s a big win.
But if Morant doesn’t mature and is constantly sidelined, this could be another frustrating chapter for teams employing him.
The first official deal of free agency is reportedly in agreement for the Utah Jazz.
On Monday afternoon, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that center Jusuf Nurkic intends to sign a two-year, $22 million dollar contract to stay in Utah.
Free agent center Jusuf Nurkic intends to sign a two-year, $22 million contract to return to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN. Nurkic thrived in coach Will Hardy's system and was excited about the Jazz new look roster. Utah officials worked through the deal with Klutch Sports CEO… pic.twitter.com/X3AxMhjQZH
According to Charania, “Utah officials worked through the deal with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul on Monday.”
Nurkic is coming off a surprising stellar season in his first year playing for the Jazz.
In 2025-26, Nurkic averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He recorded three straight triple doubles in January, becoming the first Jazz player ever to accomplish the feat.
In February, Nurkic underwent a nose surgery that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Reports show that there are no long-term health concerns associated with the surgery.
The next move in the Jazz’s free agency saga will have to deal with Nurkic’s big man partner, Walker Kessler. According to Sam Amick, Kessler was “frustrated” with how his restricted free agency has been handled.
The Los Angeles Lakers seem to be the main team interested in Kessler, however, they cannot offer him a contract until July 6, leaving time to potentially sign a different center before then.
Jimmy Butler’s agent pushed back on Warriors trade rumors linking him to an Anthony Davis deal as LeBron James speculation grows. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The reported endgame would be even bigger: acquire Davis, then use his presence to help convince James to join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in the Bay Area.
Butler’s camp, however, is pushing back on the idea that the six-time All-Star is already being quietly moved toward the exit.
NBA star Jimmy Butler before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan ZUMAPRESS.com
Bernie Lee, Butler’s agent, responded to the rumors in a statement to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, stressing that the Warriors have told Butler their plan remains centered on helping him recover from his ACL injury and return to the court with Golden State.
“I don’t want to get into a constant cycle of responding to this stuff,” Lee said, before adding that the Warriors have been “resolute” in their plan to support Butler through rehab and continue with him in pursuit of a championship.
That was the key part of the message.
Lee was not just dismissing a random trade machine idea. He was addressing a rumor that has gained momentum because of how easily Butler’s salary fits into a potential Davis pursuit. If Golden State wants to land another star making major money, Butler becomes the obvious name people attach to the deal.
New York Knicks vs Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden: Forward Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards sits on the bench in plain clothes during the second half. Jason Szenes / New York Post
That does not mean the Warriors are actually ready to move him.
Lee also framed Butler’s injury recovery as part of the reason patience is required from the organization and fan base. Butler, he said, remains focused on “getting back between the four lines” and doing his part — with the Warriors.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, greets Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry after the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors AP
Butler himself recently acknowledged the reality of the NBA business. Asked about trade speculation, he told Slater that being moved would not be new to him, but added that it was good to know he was wanted in Golden State.
“If I get traded, I get traded,” Butler said. “Their job is to win. Can I help them do that? Yes.”
That is what makes this situation so tricky.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) holds his right knee as he goes down with an injury during the third quarter against the Miami Heat IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Warriors may genuinely want Butler back. Butler may genuinely want to stay. But Golden State is also trying to maximize the final years of Curry’s championship window, and rumors involving Davis and James are not going away quietly.
For now, Lee’s statement draws a clear line from Butler’s side: the focus is rehab, return and competing with the Warriors.
Whether Golden State’s front office stays on that same line is the question that will define the rest of its offseason.
