The team and Duren, who is a restricted free agent, are far apart on contract talks, and Duren's camp is now planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios when free agency opens June 30, according to The Athletic. Duren, 22, is coming off of a breakout All-NBA season. But his next deal likely will fall short of the maximum the Pistons can offer – five years and $287 million – following an underwhelming postseason performance.
Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting for a 60-win Pistons team that lost in the second round. He earned All-NBA third team honors, qualifying him for a contract worth up to $287 million that starts at 30% of the salary cap with 8% raises.
But the "higher max criteria" only applies to the Pistons – outside teams are capped to a maximum deal starting at up to 25% of the cap with 5% raises over four years, which comes out to $177.4 million total.
Because outside teams need cap space to make a realistic offer sheet for Duren, a sign-and-trade would open more pathways for Duren to land with a new team. But Pistons still hold the upper hand in negotiations, since they can match any offer sheet or simply decline to agree to a trade. Duren's only other pathway, in that situation, would be picking up his qualifying offer for the 2026-27 to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
They repeatedly have signaled that Duren is a priority and core player they wish to build around, even after his numbers dropped across the board through 14 postseason games, averaging 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 51.4% shooting.
"I want him here, that’s where I’m at with JD," team president Trajan Langdon said on June 18. "We really want JD to be here."
Despite Duren's desire to look elsewhere for a bigger contract, it appears nothing has changed for the Pistons. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday after Duren's decision to seek other offers that "the Detroit Pistons are conveying that Jalen Duren will not be moved and are solely focused on coming to terms on an agreement."
Ultimately, the ball is in the Pistons' court. They can match any offer from an outside team and even if Duren is signed-and-traded, he'd be capped to four years and $177.4 million with an opposing team.
The Detroit Pistons knew they would have to upgrade their offense this summer, following a second-round exit in the NBA playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Joe, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, averaged 11.1 points and 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 45.5% overall and 42.3% on 3-pointers last season in 71 games, and gives the Pistons another much-needed option to space the floor. His 3-point percentage in 2025-26 was a career-best mark.
He's a high-volume 3-point shooter. and though he fell out of the Thunder's rotation during the playoffs, he will instantly help the Pistons fill their biggest need.
Along with Duncan Robinson, the Pistons now have two players to anchor their spacing. They scored 10.2 more points per 100 possessions when Robinson was on the floor last year according to Cleaning The Glass, with Cade Cunningham (+7.3) and Jalen Duren (+6.4) ranking second and third.
Outside of Robinson, they lacked reliable shooting. However, Robinson is a candidate to be waived this summer if the Pistons wish to create cap space to make a move in free agency. Only $2 million of his roughly $16 million salary next season is guaranteed, and they would have to waive him to clear enough space to be a player in the free agency market.
Joe has two years left on a reasonable four-year, $48 million contract he signed with the Thunder, with the two most expensive years already paid on a descending deal. He'll make $11.3 million each of the next two years, with the 2027-28 season a club option, according to Spotrac.
The Pistons on Tuesday night selected Stanford freshman guard Ebuka Okorie, trading up four spots with the Memphis Grizzlies to No. 17 overall in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Pistons finished 60-22 last season – the third-best record in franchise history and their best since 2005-06, and fell to the Cavaliers in seven games in their deepest postseason run in 18 years. Game 7 was a 125-94 embarrassment at home, concluding a blown 2-0 series lead.
Third-year president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has said he is building around their core three – Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson – this summer, with a repeated emphasis on adding more shooting and ball-handling.
Tom Dundon might be beloved in Charlotte (where his NHL team just hoisted the Stanley Cup), but fans in Portland have their doubts about their team's new owner. Dundon continues to live up to his penny-pinching reputation (except with players he says, although that has yet to be put to the test), and a couple of new instances have had fans — and plenty of people around the league — shaking their heads.
One was the contract for the new head coach, Mikah Nori. He is a longtime assistant in the league who most recently served as the right-hand man to Chris Finch in Minnesota. Dundon waited until there were no other open jobs on the market, then offered Nori a one-year contract with two team options after that. It's an owner-friendly contract that is radically different from the standard contract given to a first-time head coach (usually four years, with the final year a team option). In a league where status is somewhat based on contract size, you can be sure every player on that roster knows their head coach is on a lame duck deal, undercutting his authority.
Nori took the deal, but around the NBA, other coaches have been livid.
"I feel like he was put in a situation that he shouldn't be put in with having to make a choice of this nature because of the structure of what the contract is," said Pistons' coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the president of the coaches union. "It's unfortunate that you have a dream, and from our perspective, it's like someone's taking advantage of your dream and devaluing what we feel like coaches have earned over the years. You think about the sacrifice, the time, the growth that coaches have helped and done with the NBA, and then for someone to come in and attempt to devalue the work that coaches have in this league is extremely disappointing."
Nori, for his part, handled questions about the contract with grace.
"The way I look at this is: opportunity," he told reporters at his introductory press conference. "For 28 years, the first 25 years I never had an agent. I never look at money or years. I know that if I'm successful, the rest of these things will take care of themselves."
Trail Blazers arena
Portland's Moda Center, home to the Trail Blazers, is 31 years old, feels a little dated, and is in need of maintenance and upgrades. Paying for those changes has become a political fight in Oregon.
An estimated $600 million in renovations and maintenance is needed for the building, which is owned by the city of Portland with the Trail Blazers as the main tenant and a lease that runs through 2030.
There are ongoing negotiations about how to pay for this amongst Portland (which has pledged $120 million), Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, with multiple of those entities saying that Dundon and the Trail Blazers should chip in toward the cost. Dundon said don't expect that. From Kyra Buckley and Alex Zielinski of Oregon Public Broadcasting, at the Portland Metro Chamber meeting this week.
"I just know it feels like we're making a pretty big investment by staying here and paying these tax rates and agreeing to these fees for dollars that go back into the building."
"There's lots of places that don't have taxes at the same rate. So if you charge people taxes and invest it back into the thing that helps generate the money relative to the market, other places … it's a huge investment."
While the Moda Center is city-owned and it benefits from the upgrades and maintenance, nobody would benefit more than Dundon and his franchise. In Oregon, a billionaire owner saying he shouldn't have to pay for any of the renovations to the building, and a cash-strapped city should use taxpayer dollars to fund all of it, is not going to go over well.
Not that Dundon cares. He won't care until it hits him in the pocketbook. Just know his casual threat to move the team is not something that's happening (with expansion coming to the NBA, no way Adam Silver and the other owners let that happen). Dundon is going to have to work out something with the city, and he should pay his fair share.
Alex Karaban was selected No. 29 overall in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. The 6-foot 8-inch forward brings not just a wide variety of skills to the table, but a leading attitude on and off the floor.
An elite catch-and-shoot player from the perimeter isn’t the only thing that Sac-Town needs; As the all-time winningest player to put on the UConn Huskies jersey and having racked up the third most wins (15) all-time in NCAA tournament, he’s a winner in every sense of the word. The Kings finished this past season with just 22 wins, tied for last in the Western Conference. Karaban can show what it takes to build a sustainable winning culture and get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
Dan Hurley spoke to KCRA3 on Wednesday morning to dive into the selection. “I talked to BJ Armstrong (Kings assistant GM) this morning, and he asked me how I felt, and I said, ‘How I feel is we got worse last night with Alex leaving and you guys got better with Alex joining your team,’”
The two-time national champion will likely come off the bench behind DeMar DeRozan. With DeRozan entering his 18th NBA season, only time will tell when Karaban can snatch that starting spot. Karaban will play alongside No. 7 pick Darius Acuff, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Karaban’s elite catch-and-shoot ability provides immediate gravity on the perimeter. In an offense built around Sabonis’ high-post facilitating andDeRozan’s mid-range pressure, Karaban offers the exact floor-spacing safety valve the Kings desperately need to keep the lane open.
Sabonis is practically a walking double-double, but with Karaban spacing the floor on the wing, his passing lanes will open up significantly. Karaban’s ability to knock down kick-out jumpers could easily push Sabonis past his mark of 10 triple-doubles from last season.
Sabonis isn’t the only assist man the Kings have; Russell Westbrook is a prime example of an unselfish player. Westbrook’s ability to get downhill can allow for even more space to open up for Karaban out on the wing or find him cutting to the rim.
Alex Karaban went OFF for a career-high 27 points in UConn's 73-57 win over UCLA.
Defensively, Karaban offers the exact type of high-IQ that’s needed at the NBA level. While he may not be a lockdown isolation defender, his awareness as a weak-side helper is elite. Playing alongside Sabonis—who anchors the interior but isn’t a traditional rim protector—Karaban’s ability to read plays, box out, and execute crisp defensive rotations will give the Kings’ bench much-needed structural stability. He’ll be the first to dive for loose balls, put his body on the line to take a charge and be the first to help up a teammate when they go down.
Karaban doesn’t need for him to go out and light it up for 25 points a night to make his rookie season a success. He needs to stick to what made him a UConn legend and be the ultimate glue guy.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The top four picks in the NBA draft are receiving marquee billing in the NBA Summer League schedule released Friday.
The Washington Wizards are expected to showcase No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa when they play the Utah Jazz and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson on the opening day of the Summer League on July 9 in Las Vegas.
All 76 games of the Summer League from July 9-19 will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion. The games will be televised by Prime Video or ESPN platforms.
The regular schedule, with each team playing at least five games, ends on July 16. The semifinals are scheduled for July 18 and the championship is set for July 19.
Peterson is expected to play in the Salt Lake City Summer League that begins on July 4, so the game against Dybantsa and Washington in Las Vegas is not expected to be his first opportunity to play for the Jazz. Even so, the matchup of the top two draft picks was highlighted by the NBA.
Also notable is the matchup between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks on July 10. That will be four days after Miami's acquisition of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes official.
Memphis and No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer will play their Summer League opener against Chicago and No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson on July 10. That game also was promoted by the NBA as a “marquee” matchup.
Each of the two pairings involving the top four picks was scheduled for primetime tipoffs.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers free throw during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 12, 2025 at the Pavilion 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are gearing up for another trip to Las Vegas for the 2026 Summer League. Prospects such as Tyrese Proctor and the newest rookie, Meleek Thomas, are expected to suit up for Cleveland.
You can find the full schedule, including streaming options, below.
Friday, July 10
4:30 p.m. ET – Cleveland vs. Indiana (ESPN2)
Cox Pavilion
Sunday, July 12
4:00 p.m. ET – Cleveland vs. Detroit (Prime)
Thomas & Mack Center
Monday, July 13
8:00 p.m. ET – Cleveland vs. Miami (Prime)
Cox Pavilion
Wednesday, July 15
5:30 p.m. ET – Cleveland vs. New Orleans (Prime)
Cox Pavilion
A fifth game will be added to the schedule later in July.
The Cavs full roster has yet to be announced, but you can expect Thomas (this year’s 34th pick) and their two-way players to be there. Tristan Enaruna and Riley Minnix were on two-way deals last season, while Ernest Udeh Jr. is their latest pickup. Udeh is a 6’11” center who went undrafted this week.
Summer League should always be taken with a grain of salt. This environment is very different from the NBA and features players who are all desperate to prove themselves. This can lead to wonky results that rarely translate directly to the pros.
Nonetheless, you can gain some insight into who these players are in Vegas. Sam Merrill, Craig Porter Jr., and Jaylon Tyson are recent success stories from inside the Cavs organization. Each of them dominated the Summer League in their own way.
I’d watch Proctor (assuming he’s there) and Thomas most closely. These are the two prospects whom Cleveland has invested the most into. Thomas, the 6’5″ combo guard, has a chance to light it up from downtown and deliver a good first impression.
Meanwhile, Proctor should look to graduate from the Summer League. It would be great to see him stand out from everyone else. A strong performance could send him home early. That’s the goal.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 19: Dink Pate #28 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 19, 2025 at the Pavilion 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks’ 2026 NBA Summer League schedule in Las Vegas features four preliminary matchups starting July 10. All 30 NBA teams participate in the 11-day showcase.
The Knicks’ preliminary Las Vegas schedule is as follows (all times Eastern):
July 10: vs. Brooklyn Nets (6:00 PM)
July 11: vs. San Antonio Spurs (6:00 PM)
July 13: vs. Detroit Pistons (4:00 PM)
July 16: vs. Golden State Warriors (7:00 PM)
Following these games, teams will advance to the Summer League playoffs. Semifinals will take place on July 18, and the Championship game is scheduled for July 19.
The Knicks’ roster is likely to feature newly drafted rookies Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel alongside several familiar young players. Pacôme Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti, Tyler Kolek, Mohamed Diawara, and Kevin McCullar Jr. are all expected to see significant minutes as New York evaluates its young talent ahead of free agency. Take a break from the pool to watch the Summer Knicks, why dontcha?!
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: Caleb Wilson poses for a photo during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Melanie Fidler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
UNC’s connection with the Chicago Bulls has been a fascinating one over the last 40+ years. In 1984, the Bulls selected Michael Jordan as the third overall pick in the NBA Draft. Things went extremely well to say the least, and ultimately Jordan went on to become arguably the greatest NBA player of all time. In 2019, the Bulls drafted Coby White as the 7th overall pick in the draft, and while White himself eventually became the NBA player most UNC fans thought he could be, things were a trash heap as far as the Bulls organization goes. While Jordan won six NBA titles, White only made it to the NBA Playoffs once with the Bulls, only to get smoked by the Milwaukee Bucks.
That brings us to today: Caleb Wilson was selected with the fourth-overall pick to the Bulls, becoming just the third Tar Heel to be drafted by the franchise. The question, though, is will Wilson be set up for success better than White was? Or will he be resigned to play in the Play-In Tournament against the Miami Heat for the next six years? Let’s take a look at three reasons why things could play out a lot better for Wilson from an organizational perspective. Let’s start at the top and work our way down.
Arturas Karnisovas has left the building
When Coby White was drafted, the Bulls front office comprised of Gar Forman and John Paxson, who were in the middle of their villain era with the city of Chicago. After letting Jimmy Butler walk because they didn’t want to pay him a super max contract, things went downhill with the team at record speeds, and there was no immediate sign that things would get better. After drafting White, the duo known as GarPax would try to build a team around Zach LaVine, but ultimately after missing out on the playoffs four years in a row, Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf decided to make some changes.
In comes Arturas Karnisovas, and to speed things up, let’s just say things didn’t get a whole lot better. While things weren’t completely bad with AK, he still was not able to help Billy Donovan build a playoff team. The final straw was earlier this year when AK traded Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu for second round picks, and the Reinsdorfs had enough. Now the Bulls have Bryson Graham, who is widely respected for his ability to identify talent. He has said and done all the right things so far, and he has done the one thing that none of the names mentioned previously were willing to do: committed to a real rebuild. Caleb Wilson is the first building block in what will be a multi-step plan to finally return the Bulls to the NBA Playoffs.
Wilson won’t have to deal with Jim Boylen
When Coby White entered the league, Jim Boylen was the Chicago Bulls head coach. To put it nicely, Boylen was one of the worst NBA coaches that the league has ever seen. He stunted White’s growth by playing inferior talent over him, utilizing bizarre offensive and defensive schemes, and in general proving that he had no idea what he was doing. Again, that is putting it nicely. Boylen finished his head coaching career with a 39-84 record before getting fired and replaced by Billy Donovan, who while was a much better coach that helped develop White into a much better player, didn’t have the front office support to get the Bulls very far.
After deciding that he no longer wanted to coach for the Bulls after his contract was up, Donovan was replaced by former interim Portland Trailblazers head coach Tiago Splitter. While he only coached the Blazers for a short amount of time, he gained a ton of respect from the locker room, and just about every player hoped that he would stay. Carolina Hurricanes and now Portland Trailblazers owner Tom Dundon had other plans, though, and decided not to retain Splitter, so he decided to take his talents to the Windy City.
Splitter has a reputation for developing/getting the most out of his players, and many credit his efforts in getting the Blazers to the NBA Playoffs. If the same holds true in Chicago, there’s no doubt that we will see Wilson shine under the Bulls’ new leadership. It’s unfortunate that White got the short end of the stick, but Wilson will be led by a promising head coach.
Wilson’s role will be clear
The thing that bothered me the most about the Coby White situation in Chicago is that his role changed just about every year. After being buried on the bench under Boylen, he eventually found more playing time at point guard, and under Donovan he would bounce back and forth between point guard and shooting guard. While that sounds normal, it was who he was playing next to and what he was being asked to do that just never felt right.
With Caleb Wilson, though, it is hard to imagine that he will not have a defined role under Splitter. The Bulls drafted Wilson as the guy they want to build around in their rebuild, and there’s no ambiguity when it comes to what he can and can’t do. Splitter knows he’s getting a guy with a high motor who lives above the rim and can defend his tail off, and he hopes to develop him into a guy that can also stretch the floor and potentially create for others. And because the team is in a rebuild, the only pieces that are almost guaranteed to stick around for the next 2-3 years are Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, and Dailyn Swain. Barring any big surprises, Wilson will likely become the franchise player, and he could develop into an All-Star when it’s all said and done.
From the outside looking in, it’s easy to see why anybody would be uneasy about Wilson getting drafted by Chicago. But it’s a new day in the Windy City in just about every way, and Wilson has a chance to do something special in one of the best markets in the NBA. For that to happen, the Bulls will have to do their part and not go back to their old ways.
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 14: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots a free throw during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LaMelo Ball feels like the most polarizing player in the NBA. His highlight reel is a thing of beauty, full of dazzling passes, daring crossovers, and pull-up shooting with range that only Steph Curry can rival. Of course, Ball can also be a maddening player. His shot selection is exasperating when the ball isn’t going through the net, his on-ball defense can be atrocious, and there are many examples of his audacious passes turning into unforgivable turnovers.
It sure seems like the perception of Ball off the court is impossible to untangle from his production on it for most analysts. Ball has earned a reputation as the NBA’s clown prince for his reckless driving, his ridiculous tattoos, and his penchant to speak in slang that confuses older people. Ball isn’t actually that young anymore, he turns 25 years old just before the season, but he still feels like a caricature of everything older people don’t like about Gen Z.
The character assassinations on Ball are a little bit perplexing considering his Charlotte teammate Miles Bridges seems to face less pushback despite some horrifying domestic violence charges. It also overlooks that LaMelo is something of an analytical darling who left a massively positive influence on winning for the Hornets last season.
The Hornets started last season 11-22. After that, they finished 33-16 with the best net-rating in the NBA. With a better supporting cast around him, Ball trimmed some of the fat in his game, stayed healthy, and turned in an incredible season. When Ball was on the court, the Hornets out-scored teams by about eight points per 100 possessions — when he was off, Charlotte essentially played teams even. When Ball shared the floor with Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, Charlotte was +15.1 per 100 possessions. When Ball sat and the other two played, Charlotte was negative 7.4 per 100 possessions.
In fairness, Charlotte put up some electric numbers with Coby White in place of Ball last season, but that was in a much, much smaller sample of minutes. White now takes over for Ball as Charlotte’s starting point guard after inking a new three-year extension. White is good, and he plays a more reliable game than Ball, but it feels like Charlotte also significantly lowered its ceiling in the process.
My favorite all-in-one NBA stat is EPM. LaMelo Ball was the 12th best player in the NBA by that metric last year. The other all-in-ones love LaMelo, too.
What makes Ball so good in these stats? It mostly comes down to his ability to improve his team’s scoring efficiency when he’s on the floor. Ball’s scoring efficiency is below-average on an individual level with 54.6 percent true shooting last year, but Charlotte finally figured out he could still drive an efficient offense if they loaded up on offensive rebounders. Moussa Diabaté became a revelation for Charlotte last season because he can grab Ball’s misses. Besides creating second-chance points, Ball’s passing also leads to efficient scoring chances. He had 4.8 rim assists per 100 possessions last year, which ranked in the 92nd percentile of the league. He ranked in the 93rd percentile in “teammate effective field goal percentage on potential assists.”
While he’s not really a good defender, Ball is a great defensive rebounder (99th percentile among guards), and he’s surprisingly quick to loose balls.
The Hornets were so good in the second half of the season that it’s shocking they decided against giving the team another chance. It’s even more surprising because Charlotte really didn’t get all that much back in return for him. The Hornets essentially only got one real pick swap (in 2028) and one first-round pick along with Reid because of complications with the other swaps.
Here are the pick swaps the Hornets received in the Timberwolves deal for LaMelo Ball:
2028: Hornets get more favorable of CLT/MIN 2029: Hornets already owned the least favorable of the UTA/CLE/MIN picks straight up. I think the Hornets will now be entitled to swap their own…
The Wolves are still going to be underdogs against the Thunder and Spurs next season, but at least they have more variance in a potential matchup with either after trading for Ball. LaMelo and Anthony Edwards are two of the most high-volume pull-up three-point shooters in the NBA. Minnesota will try to beat OKC and San Antonio by bombing away from three. Maybe they can actually pull off an upset if those shots drop in a short series.
When he plays carries a ton of weight — and it’s the most sensible reason for why Charlotte traded him. Ball averages 48 games played per year. He was mostly healthy this past season with 72 games played, but it’s possible he has chronic ankle injuries that will prevent him from being a full-time player moving forward. LaMelo’s brother Lonzo tragically saw his body break down at an early age. Hopefully those damn Big Baller Shoes don’t cut short LaMelo’s career, too.
The Hornets will look like geniuses if LaMelo keeps getting hurt. They know his body better than anyone, so maybe I shouldn’t doubt them. It’s just that if LaMelo stays healthy, he can make magic happen. He is a borderline superstar player by the advanced stats, not just the highlights, and he clearly had a big impact on winning for Charlotte last year.
The Hornets were primed to be the most fun to watch this season with LaMelo in the lineup. Maybe Charlotte will still be real good with Coby White and rookie Christian Anderson running the show, but it feels like they just lowered their ceiling in a big way.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Isaiah Joe #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball against Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2026 in New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Oklahoma City Thunder have traded wing Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for two future second-round picks.
Just in: The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rHf0VHp7k0
With the move, Detroit adds a much-needed movement shooter to complement Cade Cunningham. Joe averaged 11.1 points in just 21.2 minutes per game last season while knocking down 42.3 percent of his six three-point attempts per game. Fresh off helping Oklahoma City win a championship, the 26-year-old gives the Pistons another proven floor spacer and playoff-tested rotation player.
Joe has spent six NBA seasons with the Thunder and 76ers, averaging 8.2 points and 2.1 rebounds across 392 regular-season games. Of his 71 appearances last season, only nine came as a starter. With Duncan Robinson projected to open the season in Detroit’s starting lineup, and Daniss Jenkins also in the backcourt mix, Joe is expected to carve out a significant role off the bench for J.B. Bickerstaff.
The Pistons engineered a remarkable worst-to-first turnaround under J.B., finishing with an Eastern Conference-best 60-22 record. Cunningham emerged as an MVP candidate while leading Detroit to its first playoff appearance in nearly two decades. The Pistons rallied from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate Orlando in the opening round before falling to Cleveland in a grueling seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal.
For OKC, the move continues a reshaping of its championship roster. After also dealing Aaron Wiggins, the Bolts have turned the two veterans into four future second-round picks, adding even more draft capital to an already hefty collection of assets.
Acquiring Joe isn’t a move that transforms Detroit into a championship-caliber team, but it’s a smart piece of business. He is an efficient role player with championship experience whose movement creates open looks, and he will burn defenses that overload Cade. For the price of two future second-round picks? Nice pick-up.
From a Knicks perspective, we’re reminded that the Eastern Conference is still in flux. Teams are looking for every possible edge to challenge the WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS. This move brings Detroit closer to the finish line, but it doesn’t push them over. Consider it a solid marginal upgrade for a team intent on giving Cunningham some relief and keeping him happy in the Motor City.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 24: Isaiah Joe #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons addressed a glaring need for a reliable perimeter threat by agreeing to trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder sharpshooter, Isaiah Joe, ESPN reports. In exchange, the Pistons will send OKC two second-round picks. The Thunder will also save $76 million in luxury tax penalties by getting Joe’s salary off their books, per Yossi Gozlan.
Joe has shot better than 40% from three each of the past four seasons, all with the Thunder. He has attempted at least six threes per game the past two seasons. He becomes a critical three-point threat for a Pistons team that wants to provide as much space as possible around Cade Cunningham, and knew they needed a player like Joe, especially if they plan to also build around Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren as part of a young core.
There is still a lot of optionality on how Detroit is going to be able to execute this move as either an above-the-cap team or below-the-cap team. The earlier trade of Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three second-round picks gave them much needed flexibility as they navigate the desire to add a player like Joe (with one or two more additions likely to come), navigate whether they will retain fellow sharpshooter Duncan Robinson or waive him (only $2 million of his salary is guaranteed) in order to free up cap space, and the ongoing negotiations with restricted free agent Jalen Duren.
Much like Duncan, Joe is ideally a bench player who creates ample spacing and can knock down deep shots in a variety of ways. He ranked second in the NBA in catch-and-shoot threes per game of those with at least five attempts, knocking down 43.1%. He shot 39% above the break and 53.5% from the corners this season. With his high, quick-release and good body control, he also has the ability to hit threes off of movement and on quick relocations.
As detailed by Harrison Hamm at Only Down One, Joe was able to form a remarkable two-man game with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and I think many of those lessons can be applied to a new pairing with Cade Cunningham.
Ideally, this addition would mean Detroit has two great two-point shooters in both Joe and Robinson. Neither is an ideal defender, but both are lethal offensively. Of course, that depends largely on how the rest of Detroit’s offseason goes. Robinson could be shipped in a deal or waived as Detroit continues to search for a dangerous sidekick, likely at the shooting guard or power forward spots, to pair alongside Cunningham.
Detroit needs more shooting and solid guard play around Cade Cunningham and they got it with this move.
Oklahoma City reportedly is trading sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to Detroit for two second-round picks, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other reports.
This is a big win for the Pistons, picking up a 6'4" two guard who averaged 11.1 points per game and shot 42.3% from 3-point range last season for the Thunder. He is exactly the kind of addition Detroit needs in the back court. He can defend a little, has some handles, and is one of the better shooters in the league. He's also playoff tested and has a ring to show for it, the kind of veteran in the locker room that Detroit also could use.
Oklahoma City clears a roster spot and some cap space for future moves. Joe is set to make $11.3 million next season and has a team option at the same price for 2027-28. Sam Presti and the Thunder front office also pick up even more draft picks.
One other Pistons note: Detroit is letting other teams know Jalen Duren is not available in a trade, NBA insider Chris Haynes reports.
Duren had an All-NBA season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game while playing high-level defense in the paint — he was key to Detroit getting the No. 1 seed. However, after a rough playoff run, he is having difficult negotiations with the Pistons over his next contract. Because he made All-NBA, he is eligible for a 30% of the cap max (starting at $49.6 million) but after the playoffs, the Pistons are likely offering a little less than that (maybe the 25% max he would have been eligible for if he had not made All-NBA, which starts at $41.4 million). There are plenty of teams that would love to jump in and make a trade for the 22-year-old center, but Detroit is telling them he's not available. Being a restricted free agent, Duren has little leverage here, which is why players and especially agents hate the RFA system.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 6: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game against Trey Jamison III #55 of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s the worst-kept secret in the NBA that the Lakers are in search of a big man.
Not only is LA’s need for a center obvious to anyone who watched them this past season, but with Luka Dončić reportedly asking for an upgrade at that spot, the focus on that position has only increased.
So far, the Lakers haven’t done anything to bolster their frontcourt, but the offseason has just begun. And with the Lakers set to have a ton of cap space, the hope is that they could take advantage of a situation somewhere and snag a free agent from a team that didn’t want to pay the cost to retain said player.
That exact scenario might be playing out in New York.
“The Lakers, amid a growing pessimism that the Knicks will be able to hang onto Robinson, are also regarded as a likely suitor for the New York big man once free agency officially begins.”
Keeping a championship team together is tough. If Knicks owner James Dolan remains determined not to go over the second apron, then they could lose Robinson this summer.
Robinson is an unrestricted free agent and made just under $13 million last season, so there’s an opportunity here for LA to be aggressive and snag one of the best centers available this offseason.
The Lakers could certainly use a player like Robinson in their frontcourt, and it’s why they’ve been connected to him before this summer.
He doesn’t put up gaudy numbers, averaging just 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game for the Knicks. But he’s a solid role player, a respectable defender and an efficient scorer. Robinson shot 72.3% from the field this season.
He was an integral part of the Knicks’ title run and would certainly bolster the frontcourt even if he isn’t the star center Lakers fans are dreaming about.
If the Lakers can figure out a number that makes Robinson happy, but doesn’t break the bank, then he could be a good fit in LA.
We’ll see if he is actually interested in joining the Lakers or if the Knicks cave and do what it takes to keep their title team intact. For now, this is an intriguing situation to monitor and a potential solution to LA’s frontcourt woes as they try to build a title contending roster.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 01: Cameron Carr #43 of the Baylor Bears reacts to scoring against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first half in a first round game of the College Basketball Crown tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 01, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hours before the second round of the NBA draft, the Lakers came to terms with Austin Reaves on a max four-year extension. It gets Luka Dončić his running mate locked in early and heads the team in a clear direction of building around their explosive backcourt.
It’s no secret that to surround those two, the Lakers need to raise their athletic floor. They got off on the right foot on Tuesday. LA traded up one spot to the 24th pick in the first round, sending cash to the New York Knicks to take Cameron Carr from Baylor.
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.
The quick and agile burst allows him to blow by defenders on closeouts. While playmaking off the bounce isn’t his strength, once he gets his shoulders past a defender, he goes to his repertoire of nifty acrobatic finishes around the rim or above the basket with his length, as shown below.
It’s almost impossible to carve out a promising career as a wing in today’s NBA without the ability to shoot. Carr shot 37% on just over six 3-pointers per game. He’s armed with a smooth jumper and can fire at long range with promising mechanics.
While many of his 3-pointers were spot-ups, he’d routinely demonstrate the ability to hit shots off the bounce as the ball handler in pick and rolls and off the move.
This threat as a shooter makes him an excellent cutter, with good special awareness for lobs and finishes at the basket. Carr connected on 80% at the free-throw line on 4.9 attempts per game, one of the better predictors for success at the next level.
Defensively, there’s a clear need for development, both physically and as a tactician on and off the ball. There’s clear upside with all the physical tools he possesses, and he flashed those as a defensive playmaker and rebounder, pulling down 5.9 per game.
Carr gets his active long arms in passing lanes during ball denial and turns that into transition opportunities on the other end, as shown below, collecting a steal per game in his final college season.
His length becomes enticing as a shot blocker, collecting 1.3 blocks per game, an impressively high mark for a perimeter-based player. The long wingspan allows him to recover on closeouts and take away what looked to be open 3-point attempts, as shown below.
He had a number of chasedown blocks as well, and even showed off some rim protection ability as a wing.
The Lakers still have a lot of work to do and have clearly put many eggs in this summer’s basket. How much a 24th overall pick, as promising as he projects to be, is ready to play next season remains to be seen. However, Carr fits the mold of players the team should look to add, putting it on track to build a contender around its star backcourt.
The Wolverines point guard and Final Four Most Outstanding Player posted a picture on Instagram of him celebrating during a win over Michigan State last season with a caption that reads, "I bleed blue #HAILTHEVICTORS", implying he will stay in Ann Arbor for the 2026-27 season.
Michigan shooting guard Trey McKenney, who averaged 9.9 points per game as a freshman last season, had already indicated his decision to return following May's exit.
Boynton and his staff have work to do on the rest of Michigan's roster, but have received positive news from the two most critical players for 2026-27.
Keeping Cadeau provides some stability for a program that saw three players selected in Wednesday's NBA Draft first round. Cadeau had dipped his toe into the draft waters, but decided to return to college with to a new name, image and likeness deal for his senior season. He averaged 10.5 points and 5.9 assists per game in his first season with Michigan after starting his career at North Carolina.
Michigan lost the top three scorers from its national title team. It has what 247Sports ranks as the No. 12 transfer portal class, headlined by big men Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati) and JP Estrella (Tennessee), neither of whom have revealed their plans for next season after May left. It’s also awaiting word from sophomore guard L.J. Cason, who averaged 8.4 points per game before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in a Feb. 27 win at Illinois.
Prior to this week’s coaching change, the Wolverines were widely projected as a top-five team nationally heading into next season.
Detroit Free Press reporter Tony Garcia contributed to this story.
