Feb 11, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brad Stevens the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics congratulates guard Jaylen Brown (7) for receiving the NBA player of the month award for his performance in the month of January before their game against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
You know the old internet meme. A dog with a fedora sits in a room. A mug is on a table. And the walls are on fire. Seemingly calm despite the circumstances, the dog says, “this is fine.”
To most of the talking heads, this is where the Celtics are heading into free agency. After striking out in their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, many suspect that 1) Jaylen Brown has/had asked to be traded, 2) bridges have been burned between him and the front office, and/or 3) Brad Stevens is actively shopping the 2024 Finals MVP and 2026 All-NBA Second Teamer.
On Thursday, ClutchPoint’s Brett Siegel reported that “Jaylen Brown has not once approached the organization or Brad Stevens to ask for a trade.” The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer also said that “Boston is very much moving forward in the market with the thought that they don’t have to trade Jaylen Brown..I don’t believe at this juncture that the Celtics want to move Brown unless it makes them better.”
Despite those missives throwing water on a lot of the speculation from more mainstream outlets like ESPN, there’s still an air of indecision with the fanbase. Brad Stevens tried to quell those rumors in his post-draft presser, but actual NBA GMs and armchair GMs alike have already hit the trade machine with possible deals that could make sense for the Celtics.
We polled our readers on the current state of the team before free agency starts on June 30th at 6 pm EST:
What does Jaylen Brown think? Well, he’s overseas at the moment, but on Wednesday, he simply tweeted that he “loves cats.” It’s not exactly the energy-shifting attitude we were expecting from JB, but it ain’t the “this is fine” dog either.
Despite the palace intrigue at Waltham, our friends at FanDuel still have the Celtics as the favorite at +210 to represent the East in next year’s Finals and third behind the Thunder and Spurs to raise the Larry O’Brien.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 6: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks reacts to a play in the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 6, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks are expected to lose center Mitchell Robinson in free agency.
According to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Robinson is “unlikely to return to the Knicks next season,” mostly because of New York’s self-imposed financial cap.
“Heard it’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson will be back with Knicks next season. He’s longest tenured Knick but also an unrestricted free agent. Owner James Dolan said he’s unwilling to pay into second apron so running it back with bench is not feasible.” — New York Post’s Stefan Bondy
According to Bondy’s sources, the longest-tenured Knick, with the team since New York drafted him with the No. 36 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, is expected to depart and put an end to his time in New York shortly after becoming a champion.
Heard it’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson will be back with Knicks next season. He’s longest tenured Knick but also an unrestricted free agent. Owner James Dolan said he’s unwilling to pay into second apron so running it back with bench is not feasible.
Robinson’s situation is tied directly to the franchise’s financial stance, with Knicks owner James Dolan making it clear his organization will not cross the second apron this summer, even though that would inevitably lead to breaking the title-winning core, with the exception of the under-contract starting five.
“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said. “I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
Dolan’s mandate has already influenced New York’s early offseason moves, including trading out of the 2026 NBA Draft’s first round to avoid adding guaranteed salary to its books, ultimately landing two second-round rookies that will likely sign minimum or two-way contracts.
Meanwhile, SNY’s Ian Begley added that retaining Robinson would likely require a pay cut from the big man, which feels highly unlikely given his value on the open market has increased and multiple suitors—the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings among them—could enter a bidding war for his services.
“It’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson returns to the Knicks because, in the best case scenario, he’d have to take a pay cut in order for NYK to remain under 2nd apron.” — SNY’s Ian Begley
Even out of the upcoming free-agency context, there is no realistic scenario in which Robinson, who isn’t necessarily old (he will play next season at age 28) but has only appeared in 167 games of the last possible 328 (51%) in the regular season, would take such a massive pay cut to fit the Knicks’ books.
Robinson has completed a four-year, $60 million deal with an average annual salary of $15 million per year. As things stand, per Yossi Gozlan, Mitch would need to take a substantial discount and sign for around $8-$9 million for New York to retain him. The word out there is that the Lakers and Kings would start their pitches at Robinson’s current $15-million-per-year salary with the expectation that the figure would increase.
Earlier on Thursday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst already said that “There is a real possibility that (the Knicks) won’t keep Mitch Robinson.”
“There is a real possibility that they won’t keep Mitch Robinson. The Knicks are working on it. They made several different moves to free up about $4 million in airspace under the apron. There’s a possibility they may trade off another player to save some money. They’re trying to figure out Mitch Robinson, but I would say it’s not a guarantee that it will work. I would say Mitch Robinson is 50/50… maybe 51/49 to come back.” — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst
If Mitch has played his last game as a Knick, he’d leave New York with 397 regular-season games under his belt, averaging 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. On top of that, he appeared in 53 postseason games, putting up 4.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game.
With free agency nearing, the gap between Robinson’s market value and what the Knicks can offer appears to make his return to Manhattan unlikely. Blame it on the little room for maneuvering imposed by the NBA’s second apron, but mostly on Dolan’s stubbornness. Some things never change.
We're in the sweet spot of the NBA rumor mill season: The NBA Draft is behind us, NBA free agency starts in less than a week, and deals are getting done. We've had two massive trades already (three if you want to count Julius Randle to Brooklyn, which set the table for LaMelo Ball to Minnesota). What are the latest rumors? Here's a roundup.
Mitchell Robinson likely not returning to New York
Knicks owner James Dolan has been clear during a couple of interviews since New York won its first title in 53 years: He wants to keep this roster together, but he would not go into the second apron to do it.
That's where the math gets ugly, and why the Knicks traded out of the first round of the NBA Draft (first round picks get a guaranteed contract). Even with all their moves, expect Mitchell Robinson to be the odd man out, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
Heard it’s unlikely Mitchell Robinson will be back with Knicks next season. He’s longest tenured Knick but also an unrestricted free agent. Owner James Dolan said he’s unwilling to pay into second apron so running it back with bench is not feasible.
Other teams around the league have been preparing for this, and Robinson — coming off a title run where he was crucial for the Knicks off the bench — will have a number of suitors.
Kawhi Leonard open to return to Raptors, Spurs
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are in the midst of negotiating a contract extension, but the sides are reportedly not close to a deal. Leonard, 35 and coming off an All-NBA season, is entering the final season of his current deal at $50.3 million, and the Clippers want him to take a healthy pay cut. Leonard doesn't like the number the Clippers are presenting.
Which has led to some speculation about a trade. However, if that happens, Leonard has some leverage because the team that deals for him will want him to sign an extension — and he would do that with his two former teams, San Antonio or Toronto, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. He would not do that with two other teams that have had their eye on him, Miami and Detroit, Fischer reports.
Toronto reportedly has been interested if Leonard becomes available. San Antonio has not been reported as an interested party, and whether the organization would want a reunion after a messy exit the first time around in 2018 is, to put it politely, up for debate. It's also unclear if any other interested teams (Golden State has been mentioned) would get a thumbs-up from Leonard.
Lakers reportedly open to Jarrett Allen for LeBron
With all due respect to Brian Windhorst — a genuinely good person and great reporter, someone I like and respect — this is a reach. At best.
Discussing a potential LeBron James return to Cleveland, Windhorst said this on ESPN Cleveland radio (hat tip Real GM).
"I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron, obviously LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs," - @WindhorstESPN says the Lakers would KILL to get Jarrett Allen in a trade for LeBron. pic.twitter.com/WiFmIABUiE
"There is a thought process out there in Los Angeles and if the Cavs were interested in this, the Lakers would sit up in attention right now. That they would sign-and-trade LeBron for Jarrett Allen. I think if the Cavs were willing to do that, they could have LeBron. Obviously, LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs. But if your pathway to pay LeBron the money is to trade Jarrett Allen for him, the Lakers would kill for Jarrett Allen."
First, Windhorst is right, if LeBron wanted this and the Cavaliers were open to it, the Lakers would jump at trading for Allen. All Cleveland could offer to LeBron as a free agent is the veteran minimum, and if you think LeBron would play for the minimum you have not been paying attention to his career. Allen is set to make $28 million next season (and has two guaranteed years at $62.7 million beyond that), and a salary basically matching that number might be palatable to LeBron.
However, there are a few issues here. First, and Windhorst brushes past this but it's huge: Does LeBron want to return to Cleveland? He plays with his son on the Lakers, in a city where his family has made a home and is happy and settled. Does he want to move to Cleveland (or Akron) for a year? Does he want to leave the West Coast?
Second is the money issue. Completing a sign-and-trade for LeBron would hard cap the Cavaliers at the first apron, expected to be about $209 million. Cleveland currently has about $222 million in projected salary on the books, so while LeBron may take a little less and James Harden takes a lower per-year number on his extension, that's still $13 million to cut, which will hurt the team's depth. Then there's the question of just how open Cleveland really is to trading Allen, although they may have to in the coming years for financial reasons.
All of which is to say, this is a long shot. At best. But with the Lakers and LeBron reportedly not really discussing a number yet in any detail, speculation about his future will fill the void.
Other NBA rumors, news
• Detroit still interested in Herro. Tyler Herro reportedly is excited to be back in Milwaukee, where he was born, to play for the Bucks... except they may not keep him if the right offer comes in. Detroit, still looking for an elite second playmaker to put next to Cade Cunningham, is still interested, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.
• Atlanta picked up its $2.41 million team option on Mouhamed Gueye for next season, which was expected. He played a big role as a backup big for them last season.
• Expect Jazz to keep Walker Kessler. Don't take my word for it (although league sources have told NBC Sports that other teams don't think he's really available), listen to Jazz owner Ryan Smith on Run it Back.
"We love Walk. He's a big piece of where we're going."
Ben Humrichous went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, as expected, but quickly signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Humrichous was overlooked coming out of high school but worked his way into earning an opportunity with an NBA organization.
Humrichous is originally from Tipton, Indiana, and graduated from Tipton High School as a zero-star recruit. He began his college career at the NAIA level before transferring to Evansville and eventually Illinois for his senior and super senior seasons. At 6-foot-9, he always had the physical tools to develop into someone capable of playing professional basketball.
The former Illini forward started his college career in the NAIA ranks and worked his way to high-major basketball at Illinois over his final two seasons. The Indiana native averaged 14.7 points per game while shooting an impressive 41.4% from beyond the arc at Evansville before transferring to Champaign. He averaged 5.8 points per game last season but was excellent defensively and on the glass. His commitment to getting stronger and improving defensively is a major reason why he earned a contract with the Nets.
It was not a smooth ride for Humrichous during his two years in Champaign, but he trusted the process and became a key contributor on last season’s Final Four team. He began his Illinois career as a starter and an important offensive piece before transitioning into a reserve role with fewer scoring opportunities. He could have left Illinois following a disappointing first season in Champaign, but he stayed, embraced his new role, and helped the Illini make a deep postseason run.
NBA Fit
It is unlikely that Ben Humrichous will ever appear in a regular-season game for the Brooklyn Nets or another NBA team, but he will get his opportunity this summer. He will join several former Illini on the NBA Summer League circuit as they fight for a roster spot.
Illinois fans have recently watched Coleman Hawkins, Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Quincy Guerrier, Dain Dainja, Marcus Domask, Justin Harmon, and Malcolm Hill compete in NBA Summer League. Former Illini Malcolm Hill grinded through Summer League and the G League before eventually earning his opportunity in the NBA. Humrichous and Kylan Boswell will be the next Illini looking to follow a similar path.
Boswell also went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft but get his opportunity to prove himself during Summer League with the Charlotte Hornets. It will be challenging for both players to make an NBA roster next season, but a continued commitment to development could give them a chance.
Humrichous is a versatile 6-foot-9 forward who can provide shooting, defense, and rebounding off the bench, much like the role he played at Illinois. Boswell is just 20 years old and brings tough on-ball defense and a different style than the big guards that have become increasingly common across the NBA.
Be on the lookout for the NBA Summer League schedule to watch Ben Humrichous, Kylan Boswell, Keaton Wagler, and several other former Illini in action this July.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Darryn Peterson poses on the red carpet prior to Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are entering next season with a prospect many are considering the best prospect in team history. But is he really? Let’s take a look at all the prospects in team history and decide who were the top ten best prospects in Jazz history. It’s important to note that this is not a list of the best players in Jazz history, but the best prospects. Basically, how much hype and expectation did each player have coming into the league when they were drafted?
10. John Stockton
This was a choice between John Stockton and Truck Robinson. Truck Robinson was a second-round pick who was considered undersized but overcame it and became a monster rebounder and two-time all-star. John Stockton was famously booed by Jazz fans when he was drafted at pick #16 and played a backup role his first three seasons.
Because he was at least a first-round pick, Stockton gets the nod. But even he was surprised he was picked so high, most had him as a late first-round pick or later. Utah kept it secret that they had an interest, but probably didn’t have to.
9. Donovan Mitchell
Once again, this isn’t a list of best players for the Jazz, just the most hyped prospects in team history. Like Stockton, Mitchell talked about how he wasn’t sure he’d even be drafted when the Jazz picked him at pick #13.
What Mitchell did have was a fantastic wingspan (6’10” for a 6’1″ player) and impressive athleticism (40″ vertical). The signs were there for him to have some nice upside but no one expected him to become what he did.
8. Enes Kanter
Most people forget that Enes Kanter was the #3 overall pick. The pick was conveyed from the trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Kanter was a top prospect from Kentucky, but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA and didn’t play. Because he was from Turkey and there was no film on him in college, he was a massive unknown with all sorts of potential outcomes. A lot of Jazz fans were throwing out names like Dirk Nowitzki at the time, but that was clearly not what he became.
I remember poring over grainy clips from Turkey like the Zabruder film and not really having any idea what he could be. The fact that Kentucky wanted him encouraged fans like me that there had to be more to him than what we saw. Because of the unknown, there was hype, but it was nothing compared to the excitement we’re feeling right now.
7. Karl Malone
Because Karl Malone came from a small school and was little known, he didn’t have much hype at all coming out of school. He did have impressive physical tools, but there were questions about his style of play, and there were rumors that he was hard to deal with. Because of that, Malone fell a little later than expected to #13 in the draft.
It obviously turned out well for Utah, but it was not clear how things would work out for the physical specimen from Louisiana Tech.
6. Dante Exum
Dante Exum is the first player on this list who had some serious hype coming to the NBA. Utah was at #5 in the draft, and it was the hope that Exum could actually fall out of the top so Utah could draft him. With his large 6’6″ size with 6’10” wingspan, overzealous draft analysts compared him to guys like Penny Hardaway. Needless to say, Jazz fans were very excited about Exum.
When he joined the Jazz, the summer league hype for him was huge, and he gave fans something to cheer for with a great first game. Obviously, things didn’t turn out as everyone hoped, but the buildup to drafting Exum was fun, and Jazz fans had serious excitement about him. You had to be there.
5. Ace Bailey
Like Exum, Ace Bailey went #5 in the draft to the Utah Jazz and came with impressive physical tools and potential. So far, Bailey has shown real flashes of what he can do, much better than what we saw from Exum. He also had a better opportunity as the Jazz were tanking for a lot of his season, which gave him a lot of time to play.
The reason Bailey gets the nod here, and could be argued to be higher, is that before his college season started, many experts had him slated for top-3, even #1 by some. But his performance at Rutgers wasn’t quite as strong as expected. He still put up numbers, but they weren’t dominant, and there were some questions about his skill set. Bailey also received bad advice from his player-manager, Omar Cooper, and didn’t give any teams a workout. He tried to work his way to Washington, but Utah selected him even without a workout. Bailey is still receiving a lot of hype and has a chance to become a real star for Utah if he continues to improve.
4. Deron Williams
Williams came into the league with some huge hype as a draft riser who led his team to the national championship. He was considered a strong pick because of his high IQ, court vision, and strong frame. Because of his great positional size, he also looked like a potential star who could punish opposing guards. That’s exactly what he did.
Williams was such a good prospect that Utah made sure to get him by trading to draft him at #3. Williams went on to become a multi-year All-Star and a 2-time All-NBA Second Team selection. And no matter what anyone says, he outplayed Chris Paul during his tenure with the Jazz.
LAS VEGAS – FEBRUARY 16: Deron Williams and Chris Paul of the Sophomore team seen prior to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend on February 16, 2007 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2007 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
3. Darrell Griffith
The Golden Griff was considered by many as the best talent in the 1980 draft, not unlike Darryn Peterson. His nickname “Dr. Dunkenstein” was well earned, with his legendary reported 48-inch vertical during the draft. Griffith was a national champion and Wooden Award winner, and Utah was excited to draft him as the potential face of the franchise and future star.
You could argue that Griffith probably deserves the #1 spot, so this might be recency bias, and the fact that I wasn’t there for Griffith. As the only other #2 pick for the Jazz, he is well-deserving of, at minimum, this #3 spot.
2. Dominique Wilkins
This is one of the more interesting notes in Jazz history. Wilkins was very hyped coming out of college and looked like the prototypical NBA superstar. His athleticism, size, and scoring were as good as they come. The issue was that he didn’t want to play in Utah. Utah drafted him and had to trade Wilkins because of his refusal to play with the team. Things have changed a lot since then, but we still see a little of this. The good news? It appears that Utah is slowly gaining a better reputation and will hopefully continue to prove itself as a place where players would love to go.
In his own words, here’s how Wilkins described the Jazz draft situation.
1. Darryn Peterson
Yes, Darryn Peterson really is the best Jazz prospect ever. His mix of talent, skill, and athleticism is as high as any prospect you’ll ever see. Coming into Kansas, Peterson was considered by many as the #1 pick. Because of his issues at Kansas, Washington was given enough pause to draft AJ Dybantsa, but that doesn’t take away from just how awesome Peterson has the potential to be. Personally, because of where he was mocked all year, and even up until draft night, I look at him as maybe the first #1 pick for the Utah Jazz. He’s for sure the best all-around talent coming out of college the Jazz have ever drafted.
But now, it all comes down to how he joins the team. The hype and potential couldn’t be highert, the hope is that he can live up to it.
According to FanDuel, Peterson has the second-best odds to win Rookie of the Year. If he plays at the level of his hype, that should be easy.
Victor Cruz popped the question for a celebratory Thursday night.
The Giants legend and Super Bowl champion proposed to Orange Calderon, an artist, record producer and DJ, who shared photos of the moment on Instagram.
“Mrs. Cruz” has a nice to it,” she wrote as the caption.
Cruz, 39, picked out a big oval-cut diamond for the next step in the relationship that started to take form last year.
The couple was spotted at various public events that sparked dating rumors, including arriving together at Coachella in April and have various recent travel social media posts together.
Victor Cruz and Orange Calderon at Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Instagram @orangecalderon
Cruz, a Knicks fan, was also seen with the musical artist on celebrity row throughout the historic season that was capped off by an NBA title — a first in 53 years.
He was in attendance for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, witnessing OG Anunoby’s show-stopping game-winning tip-in that gave the Knicks a commanding 3-1 series lead.
“Still not over this! @nyknicks,” Cruz wrote on Instagram after the game.
Victor Cruz and Orange Calderon at Game 4 of the NBA Finals series between the Knicks and Spurs. Instagram @orangecalderon
The engagement comes five years after Cruz’s split from ex-girlfriend, actress Karrueche Tran, in February 2021.
The two were an item for three years before calling it quits due to long distance. At the time, Cruz lived in New Jersey with his daughter, Kennedy, while Tran was in Los Angeles.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Saturday morning for the show where Tyler Metcalf from No Ceilings NBA will join the show to review the NBA draft. What will Ebuka Okorie bring to the Pistons? How about Ugonna Onyenso? And what else could the Isaiah Stewart trade be setting up?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 14: Anthony Dell'Orso #3 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates his three pointer, to take a 60-59 lead, during a 69-65 Arizona Wildcats win over the UCLA Bruins at Intuit Dome on November 14, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Arizona guard Anthony Dell’Orso will get a shot at NBA Summer League next month.
The Sacramento Kings have added Dell’Orso to their Summer League roster, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reported Thursday. Dell’Orso played his last two years of college basketball at Arizona, where as a senior he averaged 8.5 points on 40.6 percent shooting.
Anthony Dell’Orso will play for the Sacramento Kings in the 2026 NBA Summer League, sources told ESPN. The 6'6 wing out of Melbourne averaged 8.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, and 1.8 apg as a senior at Arizona.
Dell’Orso began his career at Campbell, then transferred to the UA in 2024. A native of Melbourne, Australia, the 6-foot-6 guard played a sixth man role for Arizona last season after starting the majority of the 2024-25 season for the Wildcats.
Dell’Orso added significant weight between his junior and senior seasons and emerged as one of Arizona’s top perimeter defenders. As a shooter, Dell’Orso is known to be streaky. His best game of the season came in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals against Iowa State, when he scored 29 points on 10 of 14 shooting including 6 of 9 from three-point range.
Dell’Orso’s home country of Australia has produced a steady stream of NBA players over the past few decades, but this year was a rare exception where no Aussies were drafted.
For the first time since 2023, the NBA Draft has wrapped up without a single Aussie hearing their name called. 🇦🇺❌
Despite massive seasons in the college system, our top homegrown prospects Oscar Cluff, Anthony Dell'Orso, and Max MacKinnon all missed out across the 60 picks. 😔… pic.twitter.com/TTrRlPz0Vf
— BASKETBALL NEWS AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 (@AusBballnews) June 25, 2026
Dell’Orso is the fifth Arizona player from the 2025-26 squad to get a chance with an NBA team, joining draft picks Brayden Burries (10th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks), Koa Peat (30th overall to the Phoenix Suns) and Jaden Bradley (50th overall to the Toronto Raptors), as well as undrafted free agent Tobe Awaka, who signed a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Kevin Porter Jr. #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Per Hoops Hype’s Mike Scotto, Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. is exercising his $5.39m player option to return to the Cream City next season. Last season, Porter posted averages of 17.4 PPG, 7.4 APG, and 5.2 RPG on 46.5% shooting from the floor and 32.2% from three.
KPJ picking up this option is at least somewhat interesting. He’s still relatively young and, when he played last season, was pretty damn productive, all told. You’d have thought he’d have at least a few outside suitors, but then again, this is not some PO at the minimum; it’s certainly a decent amount of money he’s opting into. I assume he’s betting on himself to have a healthy season and increase his value heading into the 2027-28 campaign.
It will be interesting to see what role the 26-year-old plays on this now-rebuilding Bucks squad, and how he can (hopefully) assist the young fellas. Of course, Porter had an injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign, suffering an ankle injury in the first game, followed by a torn meniscus right as he was slated to return. Then, KPJ dealt with swelling in his knee late in the year and was shut down shortly thereafter, undergoing season-ending arthroscopic knee surgery.
In this we will go over players linked to the Lakers and any free agency signings overall for the upcoming season. Let’s dive into who is looking to return to the Lakers and players linked to the Lakers, as well as any other moves around the league.
Important Dates
June 29th: Player, team, qualifying offers decision deadline.
June 30: Each NBA team may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents at 6 p.m. ET.
July 6th: Teams may begin signing free agents to contracts.
When I am not posting ridiculous trades on here you can find me talking about Nintendo, LGBT content, music, and the Lakers on my Twitter. You can follow Alexis on Twitter at @BeautifulShy_RSand on BlueSky at @msshyskye.bsky.social.
Mitchell Robinson is unlikely to return to the Knicks in free agency.
The longest-tenured Knick probably won’t get a chance at an NBA title repeat.
Mitchell Robinson is unlikely to return to the Knicks next season, a source told The Post’s Stefan Bondy on Thursday night.
Robinson is an unrestricted free agent, and with Knicks owner James Dolan making clear he is not willing to go into the second apron, it was always going to be questionable whether the big man would be back in New York.
Dolan said last week during an appearance on “The Carton Show” on WFAN that going into the second apron — due to its restrictive nature in free agency — would not be an option for the newest NBA champs.
Mitchell Robinson is unlikely to return to the Knicks in free agency. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said. “I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
The second-apron strategy was apparent in the NBA draft this week when the Knicks traded out of the first round and thus did not have to pay a guaranteed contract.
The Knicks will still have other free agent questions to face, including from Landry Shamet, who is also an unrestricted free agent. Earlier this week, The Post reported the Knicks are nearing a multiyear deal worth more than $10 million for Mohamed Diawara to return.
If this is indeed the end for Robinson in the Big Apple, it ends a run that started in 2018 when he was taken as a second-round pick out of Western Kentucky.
He was a valuable rotation player in the regular season this year by averaging 8.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes across 60 games.
Robinson, though, averaged about six minutes less during the playoffs and continued to struggle from the free-throw line (29.3 percent) as teams tried to employ the Hack-a-Mitch strategy.
And while he mysteriously broke a bone in his right hand on the eve of the NBA Finals, he played a pivotal role in the clincher with 10 rebounds, including an offensive board with 22 seconds remaining that helped the Knicks retain control of the ball before OG Anunoby hit 1 of 2 free throws to ice away the game.
Julius Randle and Mikel Brown Jr. have gotten all the Nets attention this week. But they traded for a first-round pick with an eye on Joshua Jefferson and landed the skilled forward who says Brooklyn is exactly where he’s supposed to be.
“It was really good feedback, from the late first round, from all the front office, just seeing what they need for their team,” Jefferson said. “They felt that I fit in a lot of spots because of my versatility. I’m where I need to be. The Nets took a great chance on me, and I’m very thankful for that.”
To some, the Nets took a gamble on Jefferson, an older prospect with presumably limited upside, coming off a left ankle sprain that cut short his NCAA Tournament and Iowa State’s title hopes.
“When that injury happened, I feel like a lot of things [were] jeopardized from that. Going into pre-draft, I was like, make the most out of your workouts and attack your rehab hard and everything will go how it needs to go,” Jefferson said. “Very blessed for this position that I’m in and just very thankful.”
Joshua Jefferson is interviewed during the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23. NBAE via Getty Images
Jefferson is a 22-year-old rookie with a chance to garner real frontcourt minutes behind Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Despite holdovers Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf, Jefferson could boost Brooklyn’s bench.
After averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and an impressive 4.8 assists — albeit just 34.5 percent from 3-point range — Jefferson will bring passing and physicality that could earn him early playing time.
When Nets GM Sean Marks traded for Randle on Monday and brought in the 28th pick along with him, it was with an eye toward targeting Jefferson.
“It absolutely was,” Marks said. “Josh was a guy that we have absolutely been all over all year long and watched how he played the game, his skill set. That definitely translates.
“High IQ, and when you watch him play — when Iowa State plays through him, his teammates feed off of him — he’s definitely a facilitator out there. The toughness that he has. So there were a lot of intangibles. And then he’s a winner, an absolute flat-out winner. There’s an edge to how he plays and a toughness, which we loved.”
Bulk, force and toughness have been in increasing demand in the NBA playoffs lately and visibly and vexingly lacking in Brooklyn. But measuring 6-foot-7 ¾ and a solid 246 pounds at last month’s draft combine, Jefferson says his physicality will translate quickly while he waits for his shooting to catch up.
Joshua Jefferson #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes a shot as Ramon Walker Jr. #3, and Emanuel Sharp #21 of the Houston Cougars defend in the first half of play at James H. Hilton Coliseum on February 16, 2026. Getty Images
“The thing about my game that’s going to translate pretty quickly is my physicality. The NBA is a physical game right now. You have to be physical in the playoffs to win, and that’s what I’m going to bring,” Jefferson said. “Then just continue to work on my shot. Shooting it really well throughout this pre-draft process, a lot of reps. So if I continue to do that, it’s going to keep me on the floor. And defending.”
Jefferson is a ground-bound big and not a rim protector. But he’s a stout defender and excellent playmaker. Jordi Fernández will be able to replace the departed Nic Claxton’s playmaking from the center spot with Randle’s at power forward — and perhaps Jefferson’s as well.
“The way Josh plays with the ball, the DHOs, the reads, the passing ability,” Marks said. “That’s absolutely going to fit within Jordi’s system and Jordi’s style and how he wants to play.”
Jefferson says he’s studied skilled forwards like Paolo Banchero, Draymond Green, Naz Reid and Jaylin Williams, and specifically cited Randle. Now he’ll get to back up and learn from the latter.
“It’s going to be huge for me. I watched a lot of Julius Randle film throughout my senior season. It helped me a lot seeing his mid-post, post-up work is a work of art,” Jefferson said. “I’m going to use him as a resource to improve my game and then just get a lot of assists off of him.”
The Nets agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Illinois forward Ben Humrichous, per DraftExpress.
Feb 14, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Tyon Grant-Foster (7) dunks against the Santa Clara Broncos during the second half at Leavey Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Now, Tyon Grant-Foster is getting his shot with the Western Conference champions San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League after being late to the offseason workout game with NBA franchises leading up to the draft. This was first reported by DraftExpress’s Jon Chepkevich.
NEWS: Gonzaga’s Tyon Grant-Foster will join the San Antonio Spurs for NBA Summer League, sources tell DraftExpress.
The rangy, defensively disruptive 6’7” swingman was recently green lit by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel.
In his last and only college basketball campaign with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the 26-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, averaged 11.1 points on a shooting split of 47.5 field goal percentage, 26.2 three-point percentage, and 61.1 free throw percentage in 35 games played. Grant-Foster made his impact for coach Mark Few as a defender, chipping in 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game for the Zags.
He had stops with the Kansas Jayhawks in 2020-21, DePaul Blue Demons in 2021-22, and Grand Canyon Antelopes for two seasons from 2023-25.
Grant-Foster’s first opportunity in a Spurs uniform will come at the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada, which runs from July 9 through 19.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Kia Center on April 08, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.
The Timberwolves are not trading one of their top players away.
While Minnesota is expected to be very active during the offseason, it will not be dealing guard Donte DiVincenzo, The Athletic reported Thursday.
The Athletic also indicated that the T-Wolves will be looking for more shooting and a power forward before the start of the 2026-27 season.
Donte DiVincenzo of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 7, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images
The Timberwolves clearly value DiVincenzo quite a bit to keep him, with the guard recovering from an Achilles tear suffered during the playoffs that will likely keep him out of the lineup for a good part of next season.
During the regular season, DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points and 1.3 steals per game while suiting up for all 82 games.
He averaged another 10.8 points per game during four playoff games.
The organization has steadfastly supported him in his Achilles recovery, and that has been a helpful motivator, he told The Athletic in May.
“Just knowing that you’re being thought of, you’re loved, it helps you, it gives you the motivation to want to get back,” DiVincenzo told the outlet.
“There’s nothing more that motivates me than trying to get in front of and play in front of our fans.”
Minnesota gave up Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, and 2030) and three second-round picks in order to bring in Ball amid reports that star Anthony Edwards would force a trade if he didn’t get help around him.
Trust in Knicks decision-making is at an all-time high.
President Leon Rose, his front office and the scouting department around him have brought a team out of purgatory and turned it into a champion. Their next challenge is to repeat as champions.
And their latest moves were to trade the No. 24 pick in the draft and out of the first round completely, make two second-round picks and trade two other second-rounders.
Usually, much shouldn’t be expected from players drafted in the middle of the second round — where the Knicks selected Jack Kayil (No. 39) and Tyler Nickel (No. 47). But this front office has delivered contributors from similar draft positions recently.
Can they do it again?
Jack Kayil of Alba Berlin dribbles during the Easycredit BBL Playoff Final Game 4 match between Alba Berlin and FC Bayern München at Max-Schmeling-Halle on June 19, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
“I trust the Knicks — they have a great scouting department,” Fran Fraschilla, the former head coach at Manhattan, St. John’s and New Mexico and now ESPN’s college basketball analyst, who also is part of the network’s NBA draft coverage, told The Post. “They hit on guys like this. … Let’s put it this way, I’ll say this — Walt Perrin and Brock Aller, they know what they’re doing. It’s not a given that either of these guys is gonna be a home run, but I would trust their judgment given their recent track record.”
The 20-year-old Kayil was the higher pick of the two, but most know less about him, given that he has played overseas in Germany for Alba Berlin.
He just recently won the Bundesliga championship with Alba Berlin, recording 10 points, three rebounds and a steal — though on 2-for-11 shooting from the field and 1-for-9 shooting from 3-point range — in the title game against Bayern Munich.
“He’s a big, strong but young point guard who gained a lot of experience in a relatively high-level European league,” Fraschilla, who is also respected as one of the most knowledgeable about overseas basketball, said. “It’s to his credit that he just led his Alba Berlin to an unexpected championship. That’s in his favor. Skillwise, he’s still a work in progress, but his athleticism and toughness give him a chance someday soon to be an NBA player. I’m guessing that the Knicks think he needs a little bit more seasoning. I would be surprised if he was on the roster, but he wouldn’t embarrass himself. But he’s not ready to be a contributor on an NBA championship team.
“He’s improving. He’s headed toward being an NBA player. I don’t know that he’s there yet, but he certainly made a big step this year, winning a championship. He was a focal point as a 20-year-old on a team with men, grown-ups.”
What’s his calling card right now, and where does he most need to grow?
“He’s a point guard. He’s a creative playmaker who has the ability to create his own shot, but his shooting needs to improve,” Fraschilla said. “Having said that, he takes a lot of tough shots, because his team gets low in the shot clock. His shooting definitely needs to improve for him to be viable at some point in the future. I’m sure he’ll work on it.”
Nickel, a 22-year-old forward out of Vanderbilt, perhaps has a lower ceiling but is more ready to potentially contribute right away as a sharpshooter.
Tyler Nickel of the Vanderbilt Commodores reacts after his 3-point basket against the McNeese Cowboys during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Getty Images
“I like his size, his toughness and his shooting,” Fraschilla said. “He’s got the toughness to be an NBA player, and he certainly shoots it well. And I think that’s why they drafted him. He’s not a skinny, 170-pound kid. He’s well put together, very experienced, been to three schools, and was really a good player this year in the SEC. He’s got a quick release, deep range, and he’s fearless. The toughness and the fearlessness, off the bat, give him a chance to make an NBA roster.”
Nickel shot over 40 percent from deep the past two seasons in college. And his mechanics, along with his 6-foot-7 frame, make his shooting something that should be transferable to the NBA.
“He’s got a quick release and he is fearless,” Fraschilla said. “Fearlessly tough with it. He has amnesia after every shot — make or miss. …. Right off the bat, his outside shooting is very translatable.
“I would say lateral quickness, defensively, in the best league in the world will be his primary adjustment. But if you watch YouTube, you’ll see some sneaky athletic dunks.”
There are usually reasons players fall to the second round. But the Knicks have found pieces — like Miles McBride, Mohamed Diawara, Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti — there recently.
to it,” she wrote as the caption. 
