Category: Basketball

The NBA rumors are flying and speculation is swirling with the start to the league's free agency period. There's just one catch.

At the moment, only a few teams actually have an abundance of salary cap space to spend on free agents this year. Instead, blockbuster trade discussions and contract extension negotiations (and the subsequent fallout from them) are dominating the lead up to NBA free agency in 2026.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was already traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat and LaMelo Ball went to the Minnesota Timberwolves thanks to the first of two major trades by the Charlotte Hornets. The ripple effects from those moves have started.

Draymond Green could be positioning the Golden State Warriors to get LeBron James and moves involving stars like Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard and Ja Morant are among those anticipated in the coming days. The NBA's negotiating window for free agents officially opens on Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET and a wave of transactions are expected to follow.

Here's a ranking of the eight NBA teams most likely to shape free agency this year:

NBA GAMBLING SCANDAL: Malik Beasley indicted as part of alleged sports betting scheme

Ranking NBA teams to watch during free agency

1. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors' interest in LeBron James, and a report that they could also be eyeing reuniting James with former Lakers' teammate Anthony Davis, have quickly turned Golden State into the team that can make the biggest splash this offseason. The potential of teaming Steph Curry and Draymond Green with James is there if James is willing to accept less money than he's used to making.

2. Boston Celtics

The future of Jaylen Brown now hovers over the Celtics offseason after he was so publicly dangled in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks. The team is still reportedly exploring moving him. Can he and the franchise reconcile at this point? Many front offices around the league are watching closely to see if they can pounce on a potential ending. GM Brad Stevens previously said Boston is also in the market for reinforcements inside this offseason.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers will either convince LeBron James to stay or be one of the few teams in the league with a significant amount of cap space to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Either way, their next move will be fascinating. Los Angeles is likely in the market for a center, despite DeAndre Ayton's decision to opt in to his contract for the 2026-27 season.

4. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are reportedly interested in trading Kawhi Leonard as part of a pivot to get younger, though his desire for a new contract could limit potential suitors. They also could have cap space to operate with this offseason. The franchise is still awaiting the results of an NBA investigation into its agreement with Leonard and possible collective bargaining agreement violations related to Leonard's endorsement deal with Aspiration.

5. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons followed a tremendous regular season with a playoff run that highlighted how limited they are offensively outside of star Cade Cunningham. Surrounding him with a better supporting cast appears to be a priority after Detroit offloaded Isaiah Stewart's contract and traded for Isaiah Joe. The Pistons reportedly covet Tyler Herro, who was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

6. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are one of the teams in the running for Leonard after winning a title with him in 2019 and they've been mentioned in speculation related to several possible trades this offseason. Toronto has a collection of players, draft picks and contracts, most notably, RJ Barrett, to put together a package for any stars that come available. The Raptors' motivation to compete with the Knicks and Cavaliers in the East could prompt a major move.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers have a new owner who is used to winning with his NHL team and has money available to spend under the NBA salary cap. They've been mentioned as a team interested in making a major deal after the franchise's first playoff appearance in five years. Portland can use the contracts of Jerami Grant, draft picks and several players from their young nucleus, and it seems to be in the mix for Brown.

8. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets could be one of the few teams with actual cap space to spend after already acquiring Julius Randle from the Minnesota Timberwolves via trade. Michael Porter Jr. is on an expiring contract worth $40.8 million this season and could be an attractive trade option in exchange for Jaylen Brown, or up until the trade deadline. The Nets could also sign him to a contract extension after he had a career year in Brooklyn last season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA free agency: Ranking 8 teams poised to make biggest moves

Former NBA stars Malik Beasley and Ed Davis have been indicted in connection with an alleged illegal sports betting and bribery scheme.

Beasley and Davis are facing charges alongside four alleged co-conspirators, identified as William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky, Ernesto Plascencia and current NBA player agent Paolo Zamorano, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced Monday.

Prosecutors claimed Beasley agreed to alter his performance during multiple games while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2023 to 2024 and accepted bribes from his co-defendants, who used that “non-public information” to place bets based on his performance “with the intention of profiting off the scheme.”

“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, bribing then-NBA player Malik Beasley to fix his performance in multiple games in order to place fraudulent wagers, enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement.

The group is accused of attempting to “unlawfully earn hundreds of thousands of dollars” through this “illegal betting ring,” according to James Barnacle Jr., the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office.

“As alleged, Malik Beasley allowed himself to be bought and altered his gametime performance to line pockets of Ed Davis and his other co-conspirators,” he said.

Prosecutors said “several” defendants were arrested Monday and will be arraigned at an unspecified later date.

“Bribery and insider betting schemes like this one involving former NBA players and a current NBA player agent who exploited inside NBA information for profit erode the integrity of American sports and victimize the sports-watching public,” Nocella added.

The indictment listed multiple examples of Milwaukee Bucks games that were influenced by this alleged scheme, including a match against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 26, 2024.

Prosecutors alleged Beasley told Davis he planned to underperform during that game in exchange for a bribe payment, and that this information was passed along to the other co-defendants, allowing them to place “fraudulent wagers,” many of which were “successful.”

Other impacted Bucks games included a match against the Charlotte Hornets on February 27, 2024, and another against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, 2024, according to the indictment.

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said the organization is “in the process of reviewing the federal indictment unsealed today involving Malik Beasley and Ed Davis.”

“Beasley last played in the NBA during the 2024-25 season and Davis last played in the league during the 2021-22 season. We will continue to investigate this matter and cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” Bass told The Independent.

The Independent has contacted Beasley’s attorney for comment. The Independent was unable to immediately identify attorneys for Davis, Brown, Gorodetsky, Plascencia and Zamorano.

“We’ll review the indictment and vigorously the charges and maintain Malik’s innocence,” Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney told The Athletic.

Beasley joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 following stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. The 29-year-old moved to the Detroit Pistons for the 2024-2025 season, and earlier this year, he signed with the Santurce Crabbers, a Puerto Rican team co-owned by music star Bad Bunny.

Davis, 37, most recently played for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2021-2022 season. He and Bealsey were teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020 and 2021.

Reasons for the Clippers to trade Kawhi Leonard are apparent. So are reasons to keep the seven-time All-Pro forward who turned 35 on Monday.

For now, the team is engaged in discussions and entertaining offers for Leonard, who is highly regarded despite being central to a league investigation into allegations of salary-cap intervention.

Representatives for Leonard, who has one year remaining on a three-year, $152.4 million contract, have informed other teams he prefers to remain with the Clippers and would only sign an extension with the Toronto Raptors or San Antonio Spurs if the Clippers trade him, ESPN reported. Leonard helped both of those teams to NBA titles, the Raptors in 2019 and the Spurs in 2014. He was Finals MVP both years.

However, the Athletic reported that the Dallas Mavericks offered to trade power forward P.J. Washington, shooting guard Klay Thompson and draft picks for Leonard. Mavericks president Masai Ujiri held the same position with the Raptors when they won the 2019 championship.

Read more:Plaschke: Clippers' Kawhi Leonard was the worst free-agent signing in L.A. history

If Leonard doesn’t agree to a contract extension with Dallas, he essentially would be a one-year rental and not worth as much in trade capital. Ujiri engineered the trade in 2018 that brought Leonard to the Raptors without the player agreeing to an extension, and the result was a championship followed by Leonard bolting to the Clippers.

Another factor in assessing Leonard’s trade value and the Clippers’ motivation to move him is the ongoing NBA investigation involving team owner Steve Ballmer, Leonard and the now-bankrupt sustainable financial technology firm Aspiration.

Triggered in October when the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast detailed a $28 million endorsement contract Leonard received from Aspiration, the NBA hired a prominent law firm to conduct the probe. Findings could be announced soon because NBA commissioner Adam Silver said June 2 that it was time to “wrap it up.”

Aspiration had a $300 million, 23-year endorsement deal with the Clippers and Ballmer personally invested $60 million into the company, whose co-founder Joseph Sanberg was convicted of two counts of wire fraud and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. Ballmer admits introducing Leonard to Aspiration executives but has denied that he knew details of the endorsement deal that Leonard never fulfilled.

Read more:Questions over Kawhi Leonard payments put focus on NBA salary cap

Silver has not stated that the NBA would hold up any trade involving Leonard because of the investigation. Still, the Clippers expressed at the end of the regular season that keeping the 14-year veteran was a priority.

“Our plan is to win with Kawhi,” Clippers president Lawrence Frank said.

Leonard is coming off his best season of six with the Clippers, averaging a career-high 27.9 points over 65 games. He has averaged 20.7 points a game during his career.

The Raptors are rumored to be dangling former Lakers forward Brandon Ingram and first-round draft picks

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

As LeBron James dominated the news cycle regarding his future on the eve of NBA free agency, the Lakers retained a different piece of their lineup.

Deandre Ayton is picking up his player option for $8.1 million and returning to the Lakers, according to people not authorized to publicly discuss on decision.

The 7-foot Ayton averaged career low in points (12.5), rebounds (8.2), minutes per game (27.2), but played a career-high 72 games and shot a career-best 67.1% from the field. He averaged 10.0 points and 9.6 rebounds in the playoffs.

As for James, he’s an unrestricted free agent who earned $52.6 million last season.

Read more:Swanson: You’re up, Rob Pelinka. To avoid Ned Colletti’s fate, the Lakers’ GM has to deliver this offseason

Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said during his season-ending press conference with the media in May that they would give James time away with his family to decide his future.

But there has been so much speculation about James’ future, with the most persistent reports the Golden State Warriors are interested in signing James.

Several NBA executives told The Times they can see James staying with the Lakers on a one-year deal for $30 million if L.A. is willing to pay him that amount. Another executive said he could see James playing two more seasons. The executives could not discuss potential free agency moves publicly because of NBA rule restrictions.

“LeBron, we probably haven’t seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he’s honored the game. He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization,” Pelinka said back in May. “And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back. And I think the first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are.”

The NBA free-agency period opens Tuesday at 3 p.m. PDT, allowing teams to officially begin negotiating. But contracts can’t be officially signed until the moratorium is lifted on July 6.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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NBA guard Malik Beasley and former forward Ed Davis have been indicted on multiple gambling charges by federal prosecutors, stemming from a game-manipulation scheme. 

Key Takeaways

• Malik Beasley allegedly conspired with former NBA player Ed Davis to manipulate at least three games. 
  
  
• The co-defendants will be arraigned at a later date. 
  
  
• This is one of multiple NBA betting schemes. 

Beasley, Davis, and four co-conspirators, including NBA agent Paolo Zamorano, were charged in a Brooklyn federal court with fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI announced on Monday.

Several defendants were arrested on Monday and will be arraigned at a later date. 

Beasley is accused of agreeing with Davis to purposely underperform or overperform in NBA games so a group of bettors, including Zamorano, William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky, Ernesto Plascencia, and other co-conspirators, could wager on his player props using non-public information to profit from the scheme. 

Major profits

Federal prosecutors allege that bettors made hundreds of thousands of dollars from the NBA scheme. If convicted, Beasley and his co-defendants face 20 years in prison for the wire fraud, 20 years for money laundering, and another five years for bribery. 

“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, bribing then-NBA player Malik Beasley to fix his performance in multiple games in order to place fraudulent wagers, enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement.

“Bribery and insider betting schemes like this one involving former NBA players and a current NBA player agent who exploited inside NBA information for profit erode the integrity of American sports and victimize the sports-watching public.” 

Game manipulation 

Beasley agreed to manipulate at least three games during the 2023-2024 season, when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks, according to federal prosecutors. 

In a game on Jan. 26, 2024, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Beasley allegedly took a bribe from Davis to stay under his rebounding total for the game, information Davis shared with the group of bettors. Beasley finished with three boards. 

A month later, Beasley told Davis that he would go under his point total but over on rebounds for a promised bribe in a contest against the Charlotte Hornets. Davis again shared this non-public information with multiple co-conspirators. Beasley finished with six points and four rebounds in a 123-85 Bucks victory. 

Prosecutors also outlined a March 10, 2024, game against the Los Angeles Clippers in which Beasley said he would go over his rebounding total. He grabbed four boards in a 124-117 win on the road, while the group of bettors allegedly cashed in. 

“These defendants allegedly operated an illegal betting ring in an attempt to unlawfully earn hundreds of thousands of dollars,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle said.

“As alleged, Malik Beasley allowed himself to be bought and altered his gametime performance to line pockets of Ed Davis and his other co-conspirators. The FBI continues to dismantle fraudulent schemes that erode the integrity of any institution, including our nation's professional sports leagues.”

NBA schemes

Beasley was under investigation last year by the NBA for betting on games and player props. He intended to sign a contract with the Detroit Pistons before the league began looking into possible gambling policy violations, but Beasley missed all of last season. 

He had a brief stint in the Puerto Rico pro league before being released. Davis hasn’t been on an NBA roster since the 2021-22 season, but he played 11 seasons in the league and was teammates with Beasley in Minnesota. 

This gambling scandal comes on the heels of two other major NBA betting schemes. Former Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter was banned from the league for betting on games, including wagering on his own team. He later pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges, admitting that he took himself out of two games to help a group of bettors profit from his player prop unders to pay off gambling debts. 

Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested in October 2025 during a massive FBI takedown and faces fraud and bribery charges for allegedly fixing a game while he played for the Charlotte Hornets in March 2023. Rozier has pleaded not guilty and will stand trial in February. 

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

You can smell it; it’s so close you can nearly taste it. NBA free agency. Yes, it’s that time of year again, where teams convince themselves that their new recruits will put them over the top in the coming campaign. And despite all the lamenting that free agency is “dead,” you know you’re just as excited about it as I am (shout out to joebucks2014onward for getting the discussion started!). 

NBA free agency officially opens on June 30 at 5:00 p.m. CT and, following the annual moratorium period, players can sign new contracts starting on July 6—which also just so happens to be when the Milwaukee Bucks’ trade with the Miami Heat can officially be completed. 

Roster outlook

Currently, the Bucks project to have the following depth chart: 

C	Kel’el Ware	Myles Turner	Jericho Sims
PF	Kyle Kuzma	Pete Nance
SF	Jaime Jaquez Jr.	Nate Ament	Ousmane Dieng (RFA)	Malique Lewis
SG	Tyler Herro	Brayden Burries	AJ Green	Gary Harris
PG	Ryan Rollins	Kevin Porter Jr.	Kasparas Jakučionis

That’s 16 players already, not counting Cormac Ryan and undrafted rookie centre, Rafael Castro, who are on two-way contracts.  

Of course, with player options still on the table for Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. (though he’s expected to opt out), a team option on Andre Jackson Jr., and the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade still to be finalised, the roster certainly remains in a state of flux. It likely will for an extended time too—teams can carry up to 21 players in the offseason, but have to reduce that to 15 standard contracts and up to three two-way contracts by opening night.  

Needs

As it stands, the Bucks are loaded in the backcourt—at least with potential—with too many talented players and not enough minutes to go around, so you’d have to think there’s an expansion of the Giannis trade or a separate trade coming, most likely involving Herro or Porter. There’s always the option to waive and pay out a contract if needed as well, not that that’s likely to happen with any of Milwaukee’s guard prospects.

In the frontcourt, however, the same dilemma doesn’t present itself. Milwaukee looks set at centre, with Ware and Turner likely to split minutes (if Turner isn’t also traded) and Sims providing depth. On the wing, Jaquez, Ament, and Dieng, should he be retained, seem to have the minutes covered. However, the power forward position looks more like the pantry at the end of the week—there’s some options, but they’re not quite what you feel like, and certainly not enough to nourish you moving forward.  

Having said these thing, Taylor Jenkins could opt to go with two wings and one big. Ament and Dieng certainly have the height to play the four, even if they don’t yet have the bulk. Jaquez does have the bulk and actually played an estimated 50% of his minutes at the four for the Heat last season (per Basketball Reference). Alternatively, Jenkins could opt to use any of the three centres at the power forward position, with Sims seeming the better option due to his ability to defend on the perimeter.

All things considered, though, the power forward position looms as the Bucks’ biggest area of need and something they may look to address in free agency. To do this, they have access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE), just over $15m, and the biannual exception (BAE), $5.5m—they just can’t cross the first apron if they use either. They also have a $25.5m trade exception created in the Giannis trade.    

Free agents  

A complete list of free agents can be found through the NBA’s 2026 free agent tracker. At the four, notable names include: 

• LeBron James 

• Peyton Watson 

• Kelly Oubre Jr.  

• John Collins 

• Tobias Harris 

• GG Jackson (RFA) 

• Jonathon Kuminga  

• Rui Hachimura 

• Julian Champagnie  

• Tari Eason (RFA) 

Of these, you can rule out LeBron, Watson, Harris, and Champagnie, who are likely back with their current teams or eying an alternative contender if they do move. Collins, coming off a $27m contract, is likely too expensive, as are Hachimura and Kuminga, though they could conceivably be options. Jackson is unlikely for the opposite reason—he’s on a super-friendly team option at just $2.4m (i.e., likely to be picked up). That leaves Tari Eason, a restricted free agent coming off his rookie contract. A long, defensive type with three point range, he’d seemingly fit in well with Jenkins, and he’s only just 25 years old so is on a similar timeline to many of the young Bucks. But it wouldn’t be surprising—it’s perhaps even likely—that he returns to Houston.  

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How do you see the Bucks’ free agency panning out? Should they target a power forward, or does someone else at another position tickle your fancy? Trades, signings, targets, let us know your thoughts.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly trying to build the oldest super team in the history of the NBA. The Warriors are after both LeBron James and Anthony Davis this summer, and their grand plan is already in motion.

Draymond Green opted out of his $27.7 million player option on Monday, but he’s not going anywhere. Green will end up back in Golden State on a multi-year deal, but the opt out gives Golden State more flexibility to chase James and Davis, as ESPN insider Shams Charania reported. Here’s how it could all work out.

• The Warriors could trade Jimmy Butler and a future first-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Davis. Davis has two years, $121 million left on his contract, but his salary lines up nicely with Butler’s for the 1-for-1 swap.
• LeBron is an unrestricted free agent. The Warriors could offer him the mid-level exception of around $15 million if the team can dump Moses Moody and convince Draymond Green to take a pay cut.

Cap expert Yossi Gozlan laid it out here:

The Warriors are hoping to pair LeBron James and Anthony Davis with Stephen Curry.

It'll be difficult, but it's not impossible.

I walk @SamQuinnCBS through how they could make it happen within the first apron hard cap while retaining Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis. pic.twitter.com/VqVLHiRueR

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 29, 2026

The Warriors’ plans were first reported by Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports.

Butler is recovering from a torn ACL, and is expected to be out until February or March. This would be incredible work by the Wizards to leverage Golden State for a future first-round pick for Davis, a player who doesn’t fit their timeline. If it happens, Washington’s buy-low deal for Davis at last year’s trade deadline will suddenly look brilliant.

A large part of this comes down to what LeBron wants. James has been comfortable playing for the Lakers, and could easily spend his final season with the team before riding off into the sunset. I’ve been pushing the idea of LeBron returning to Cleveland, which feels like the perfect setting for his retirement tour. I see the appeal of going to the Warriors, too. LeBron had a great experience playing with Steph Curry at the Paris Olympics, he’s spent most of his career trying to team up with other great players, and Golden State would probably give him the best chance of actually competing for a championship in his final season.

I actually think it’s going to happen. The Wizards will get a premium future draft pick for a player they don’t want, Davis will be freed from a hopeless situation in DC, and Butler eventually gets to choose his next team after getting bought out. LeBron and Steph together would be absolute cinema even at this stage of their career. If the Warriors could somehow find a way to bring back Kristaps Porzingis, I like it even more.

Green and LeBron would have to agree to pay cuts to make this happen, and that’s where things could fall apart. There’s also a chance James simply prefers to spend his final season in LA or Cleveland. It really feels like the Warriors’ plan is starting to take shape, though. I think it’s going to happen.

Would Golden State actually be a contender if they pull this off? They just seem way too old and too injury prone to make it through an 82-game regular season and then four playoff series. Doing so would require Davis to actually stay durable, which he’s never really done in his career. It would require James and Curry to avoid age-related decline or a freak injury that could end the Warriors’ chances immediately.

I’d still take the Thunder, Spurs, and Timberwolves over this Warriors team in the West, but if they could somehow make it to May healthy, you never know what could happen.

However real the Warriors’ attempts to form the NBA’s Expendables are, it is at least having the ripple effect of reigniting conversations between LeBron James and the Lakers.

As Golden State begins maneuvering to attempt to pair LeBron and Anthony Davis in San Francisco, the Lakers and LeBron are set to have a conversation.

LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers still have yet to have a conversation regarding his future but that’s expected to change in light of Golden State Warriors’ strategic maneuvering to position themselves as a landing spot, sources tell me.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 29, 2026

After it largely being an idea or theory, the Warriors saw Draymond Green opt out of his contract on Monday to help facilitate their plans. Golden State’s hope is to trade for AD using Jimmy Butler’s salary and draft picks, then lure LeBron in free agency to play with Steph, AD and Draymond.

Recently, it was reported that the discussions between the Lakers and LeBron had been minimal and that the team had not yet offered a contract. However, with the Warriors appearing to make a serious run at LeBron, it sounds like the two sides are going to touch base once more.

The Lakers are down to about the final 36 hours of their exclusive negotiating window with LeBron before other teams can, at least formally, begin holding talks with free agents. Taking advantage of those remaining hours is a wise move as it could give the team a sense of what to expect from him this summer.

It’s unlikely this discussion ends with any sort of contract, though that is possible. The Lakers still have quite a bit to do in free agency and lots of moving parts, so it’s unlikely they’ll tie up money on LeBron right now.

But, clearly, there’s something there with the Warriors that is making them change course.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Nobody asked us to care about what the Los Angeles Lakers are doing this offseason. But as a seasoned scribe here in Dub Nation, I believe in knowing your enemies. Not in a weird, paranoid way, but like in a “the Lakers were the best team in the Pacific Division last season, what are they up to now” kind of fashion.

So consider this your official Lakers draft debrief. You’re welcome!

Then they traded up for Cameron Carr out of Baylor with the 24th pick. A 6’5″ wing with a 7’0.75″ wingspan, a 42.5-inch vertical, and 37% three-point shooting in his breakout college season. Carr is the athletic, switchable, sky-above-the-rim threat that next to Luka Doncic could be a real scary proposition.

Cameron Carr at Baylor:

18.9 PPG
5.8 RPG
2.6 APG
1.3 BPG
2.3 3PG
37.4% 3PT

Going to the Lakers with the No. 24 pick.pic.twitter.com/RvBMBW65Lw

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 24, 2026

Cameron Carr joining Luka in LA 🤩

DeMarcus Cousins explains why this is a great pick for the Lakers

Full video: https://t.co/uDTWPUNXI0pic.twitter.com/jwlbKnVNIZ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 24, 2026

Here’s what should make Dub Nation raise an eyebrow; this is apparently exactly what the Lakers were looking for. But don’t take my word for, just ask our blog buddy Silver Screen and Roll who wrote an article about Carr entitled “The Lakers drafted the exact archetype they need in Cameron Carr”:

They seem to now have a type. Similar to Adou Thiero, the 36th overall selection last year, Carr is a freakish athlete with a standout highlight reel dunk package. He showed that athletic pop off at the combine, posting a max vertical leap of 42.5”, tied for second overall. Carr measured out at 6’4.5 and 184 pounds, with a long 7’0.75” wingspan and an 8’8” standing reach. Offensively, he’s the prototypical modern NBA-level wing teams are looking for, living with baskets at the rim or behind the 3-point line with tantalizing fluidity.

He leverages his physical traits in a multitude of ways. One is as a monster finisher in transition, showcasing as one of the best vertical threat wings in the draft, a tailor-made athletic fit next to the playmaking savant Luka, who’s had success with similar players like the high flyer Derick Jones Jr.

A 6-foot-5 high flyer running the wing in transition or cutting backdoor in the dunker spot? With Luka and Austin Reaves drawing the eyes of the defense, Carr flying around and slamming thunderous dunks could be massive momentum shifts.

The Dubs missed the playoffs last year and are trying to sharpen their identity; meanwhile the Lakers went to the second round last year even with Luka and Reaves down. They beat Houston in the first round before OKC sent them home with a flurry of brooms, and now they’re coming back looking to build on those championship aspirations.

Gilbert Arenas strictly questions the logic behind the Lakers drafting Cameron Carr.

"A 6'4" lob threat doesn’t exist"

"I'm going to be your biggest fan and hater at the same time"

Gilbert Arenas isn't fully sold on the Lakers' latest draft move. While he likes Cameron Carr as… pic.twitter.com/KyKlIpIFp4

— B3nClipsHQ (@B3nClipsHQ) June 28, 2026

Now let’s be balanced about this, because Dub Nation doesn’t do blind panic. Carr fell to the 24th spot for a reason; I don’t think he’s coming in to win rookie of the year and terrorize the league immediately. The Lakers still have more King-sized roster questions to answer this summer. But the direction is set and they know who they want to be: more athletic, more dynamic, more in your face. Golden State needs to have an answer ready because the Lake Show isn’t waiting for the stumbling dynasty from the Bay to figure it out.

Keep your friends close, Dub Nation. Keep your Pacific Division rivals in your group chat, your timeline, and your scouting report. They’re absolutely coming for this division and Golden State will be right in their way.

The Brooklyn Nets are bringing back both Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott on two-year deals, according to reports Monday morning by Shams Charania and Mike Scotto. The team also exercised its team option on Malachi Smith, but the deal was totally non-guaranteed.

Sharpe will sign a two-year, $20 million deal, apparently without options, while Minott will sign a two-year, $9 million deal with the second year a team option. The two, aged 24 and 23, respectively, are seen as building blocks in the Nets continuing rebuild. At the moment, Sharpe, who is one of the league leaders in rebound percentage, seems likely to replace the departed Nic Claxton as the Nets starting center while Minott will join the rotation upfront.

Scotto was first with the Sharpe signing, while Shams had Minott first…

Breaking: The Brooklyn Nets plan to sign Day’Ron Sharpe to a two-year deal worth roughly $20 million, sources told @hoopshype. Sharpe has impressed Brooklyn and is expected to have a bigger role this season. Agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of @AMRAgency finalized the deal. pic.twitter.com/YzOx3ROeYU

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 29, 2026

Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott intends to sign a new two-year, $9 million to return to the franchise, with a team option in second season, sources tell ESPN. The Nets declined Minott’s team option to clear the way for a new contract. pic.twitter.com/9HlXrdo91Z

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026

The Nets had a deadline of Monday to exercise team options on both — Sharpe for $6.3 million and Minott for $2.6 million — but chose instead to sign the two players to multi-year deals with significant raises. Sharpe was drafted by the Nets in 2021 while Minott was acquired from the Celtics in a salary dump at the trade deadline last February in return for $110,000 in cash considerations, the minimum permitted under the CBA.

The actual signings won’t come until after July 6.

There had been some speculation that the two, along with Ziaire Williams and Malachi Smith, would have their team options declined so that Sean Marks & co. could have more salary cap space to pursue other, bigger free agents starting Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Instead, the Nets took care of their own first while still retaining significant space. Williams had his team option, also for $6.3 million, declined and his future with the organization remains murky. The Nets could sign him later in free agency, but Dan Woike of The Athletic reported Sunday night that is hometown team, the L.A. Lakers may have interest.

Later, Scotto also reported that Smith, 26, will have his team option of $2.1 million exercised, all of which is non-guaranteed…

The Brooklyn Nets will exercise the $2.15 million team option on Malachi Smith, which is fully non-guaranteed for the 2026-27 season, league sources told @hoopshype. Smith averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for Brooklyn last season.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 29, 2026

As Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron tweeted not long after the Shams and Scotto reports, the Nets are likely to use the MLE or cap space to sign Minott, rather than Bird Rights. He also put the Nets workable cap space at about $36 million, the third highest in the NBA this summer. (The Nets also have $3.9 million available from last season that could be used by Tuesday.)

Brooklyn Nets salary cap situation after re-signing Day'Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott.

Minott doesn't have enough Non Bird rights to get two years, $9 million, so his contract goes into cap space or room mid-level exception.

Nets project with $36 million in cap space left. https://t.co/FqVNJ6zn2zpic.twitter.com/69qLDmDaKZ

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 29, 2026

Others, including Bobby Marks put the number somewhat higher…

With Nic Claxton still on the books (trade does not become finalized until 7/6), Brooklyn projects to have up to $45M in cap space.

Enough room to dive into the restricted FA pool of players.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 29, 2026

In either event, the Nets should be a big player in free agency.

The Nets are introducing their three rookies — Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau — this afternoon at a media availability in Brooklyn. Sean Marks is likely to get questions on the signings as well.

• Nets bring back Day’Ron Sharpe, Josh Minott on multi-year deals after impressive seasons – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

Draymond Green is suddenly an unrestricted free agent, and it could lead to LeBron James joining the Golden State Warriors.

The 36-year-old forward opted out of the final year of his contract with Golden State, according to ESPN, and declined a player option worth nearly $27.7 million for the 2026-27 season. It means Green is free to sign with another NBA team when free agency begins with the league's legal negotiating period on Tuesday, June 30.

Green's decision, however, is seen as a positive development for the Warriors' offseason plans. The team is reportedly seeking James and his former Lakers' teammate, Anthony Davis of the Washington Wizards, and would use the contract for injured forward Jimmy Butler and the $15 million midlevel exception to pull it off.

NBA FREE AGENCY LIVE UPDATES: Latest rumors, signings, news on top players

"If Draymond Green opts out of that contract, I will just point out he's represented by the same agency as LeBron James – Klutch Sports," NBA reporter Brian Windhorst said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Monday, June 29. "... If Draymond opts out of that contract, it opens the window for the Warriors to maneuver and offer a free agent. Maybe it's LeBron, maybe it's someone else."

The anticipation is that Golden State and Green will begin negotiating terms for a new contract extension based on how the team's pursuit of James goes. Though Green and James had a memorable encounter during the 2016 NBA Finals, in which a flagrant foul by Green led to a one-game suspension, the two have since developed a friendship off the court and share the same representation.

Green will be entering his 15th NBA season in 2026-27 and averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebound and 5.5 assists per game for the Warriors this past season. The team failed to make it out of the Western Conference play-in tournament this past season, with injuries to Butler and Stephen Curry contributing to the struggles.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr and Curry are returning and the franchise selected Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft last week. Who else joins them in the Bay Area next season is suddenly a topic of great intrigue for the entire league.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Draymond Green's contract opt-out opens LeBron James path for Warriors

Ahead of free agency beginning on Tuesday, the Raptors’ centre has elected to test the market after turning down his 2.8 million dollar option, as per Shams Charania. Mamukelashvili was a core part of Toronto’s frontcourt in the 2025-26 season, where the big man posted averages of 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 stocks, playing 80 games and earning Sixth Man of the Year votes.

The forward is entering his sixth season in the NBA, and could be a hot commodity for those looking to add a floor spacing backup big to their roster. With Toronto in active talks to acquire Kawhi Leonard, keeping Mamu could be a priority to ensure roster cohesion if the Clippers demand Collin Murray-Boyles as part of such a trade. As the Raptors have also been linked to Myles Turner, what exactly the Raptors will offer to keep Mamu is potentially dependent on other desired acquisitions in free agency.

Mamukelashvili is only 26 years old, and fits the timeline centred around Scottie Barnes’ development well. As an experienced journeyman, Mamu has found a high level of success in Toronto, and is a very important player in their roster considering the current state of their big man rotation. I am of the opinion that Mamu is very much worth bringing back, with a bump in pay to acknowledge the quality of his contribution, but that financial flexibility must be taken into consideration when attempting to put together a team that can go even deeper into the playoffs. As well, he is undersized for a centre, and for a team that is built around a point guard in a power forward’s body, the reality of the Raptors’ need to get bigger should also be taken into consideration.