Category: NBA

The Brooklyn Nets on Sunday declined their $6.25 million team option on Ziaire Williams, making him an unrestricted free agent and calling into question his future in Brooklyn. While, the Nets could re-sign him, there’s also a possibility that he could sign elsewhere and Brooklyn would lose him for nothing.

Indeed, not long after the news broke, there was report out of Los Angeles that the Lakers may have interest in the 6’9″ small forward who Jordi Fernandez used as a 3-and-D forward last season.

Mike Scotto was first with the news…

The Nets signed Williams — along with Day’Ron Sharpe — to identical two-year $12.5 million deals last summer, each with a team option for the second year at $6.25 million. While the Nets and Sharpe mutually decided on Saturday to extend the decision on his team option through Monday, suggesting perhaps the two sides were working on an extension, there was no such agreement with Williams.

Seen in the best light for the California native, the team could simply be preserving cap space to add to its flexibility prior to the start of free agency Tuesday when teams can start talking to free agents on other teams. One they dealt with other issues, they could return and sign him using Bird Rights or work him into the $9.4 million MLE the Nets are likely to have. In the worst light, it means the team will be moving on from him.

Yossi Gozlan explained the Nets cap situation in a tweet Sunday…

Although he finished with a career high 10.2 points and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes last season, he displayed inconsistency and early in the season it led to him getting a DNP for a game. In late November, Jordi Fernandez kept him out of game in hopes of encouraging him to more consistent and show more energy. The Nets coach was public in his reasoning.

When asked if he would play the next game, Fernandez was non-committal.

“It’s a very abstract question because I just talked to him and didn’t play him last game,” Fernández told Brian Lewis. “So if — whenever he has the next opportunity to play — he consistently does it, then we will see if I was successful or not. If not, it’s not on him; it’s on me to try to find ways for him to perform consistently.

“Energy is not a subjective thing. … What we need is his ball pressure to be elite, his deflections to be elite, his pick-and-roll defense to be elite, his iso defense to be elite. … Last year, he was above average, one of the top players in the NBA. We need that to be the same or better because I know he can do it.”

Following that decision, Williams played with more consistency. Assuming he returns to Brooklyn, he’s likely to once again back up Michael Porter Jr. at small forward or the newly acquired Julius Randle at power forward. The Nets have a number of young forwards as well, including Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and perhaps even first round pick Joshua Jefferson. None are at Williams defensive level.

However, Dan Woike of The Athletic wrote Sunday night aht the Nets might get competition from the Lakers. He wrote:

According to a league source, one player the Lakers could take a look at in free agency is Brooklyn small forward Zaire Williams, who had his team option declined by the Nets on Sunday. The Lakers have desires to get younger and more athletic on the wing, and Williams is coming off back-to-back seasons in Brooklyn where he averaged more than 10 points and shot better than 34 percent from 3-point range.

The Nets declined his $6.25 million option for next season while dealing with a roster crunch.

The bet for the Lakers would be that at 6-9 with a nearly 40-inch vertical leap, that Williams could be an impact defensive player with room for growth on the offensive side of the ball. He has fans inside the Lakers’ facility.

There are local connections too — Williams was a teammate of Bronny James at Sierra Canyon.

Williams is one of four players with team options. As noted, Sharpe also has a $6.25 team option. In addition, Josh Minott, acquired from the Celtics at the deadline, has a $2.5 million option and Malachi Smith, called up from Long Island late in the season has a $1.1 million option.

With Sean Marks facing the media Monday afternoon, he’s likely to be fielding questions the team options as well as introducing the team’s three draft picks.

• Nets decline Ziaire Williams’ $6.25 million team option despite career year – Brian Lewis – New York Post

When we think of a type, we’re usually thinking of the type of person we’d like to date. For many of us, it’s finding literally anyone who treats us nicely, is okay with a little heft in the middle, and can put up with an unhealthy obsession with Jazz basketball (sobs softly).

But this is a basketball article! And when we’re talking about types, we’re talking about NBA players. More specifically, we’re talking about Danny Ainge’s type. Let’s take a look at some of the most well-known players Ainge picked, traded for, or didn’t trade, and see if there’s a trend.

Paul Pierce

Pierce was drafted in 1998, obviously before Ainge arrived as the General Manager in 2003. Pierce was on some disastrous Rick Pitino teams before Ainge arrived. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Ainge in his time with the Jazz, it’s that he holds onto winning talent. Or, at the very least, won’t trade that talent unless he receives the right value for a player. There were multiple times that Ainge could have traded Pierce, but he made sure to keep him and then made him the cornerstone when he traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

Pierce was a clutch scoring wing with size who was a cornerstone of everything the Celtics did on their way to a title run. He was also a solid defender who helped contribute to elite Celtic defenses.

Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett

The name of the game here is talent, and that’s what Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen brought to the Celtics. Allen is considered one of the greatest shooters of all time, but was an athlete who guarded his yard. Kevin Garnett was an elite defensive center who won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2008. Garnett was also a talented offensive player who could score in a variety of ways on the offensive end.

With Pierce, Allen, and Garnett, we’re starting to see a trend. Talent is the name of the game, and Ainge will clearly side with talent. And not just one-sided talent, but two-way talent. If you’re an elite offensive player, you’d better be able to defend. If you’re a defense-first prospect, you have to be capable of scoring in the offense. Perhaps this is pretty obvious, but it is clear that Ainge is willing to bet on players who show the talent he knows can lead to wins.

Rajon Rondo

Ainge drafted Rondo the year before trading for Garnett and Allen. Rondo had impressive size, defense, and playmaking despite an underwhelming jumper. Ainge knew the value of Rondo, and when trade talks were happening to bring over Allen and Garnett, he made sure to keep him.

Like the prospects before, Rondo was an elite defensive guard who had a high IQ on offense and was an elite point guard. Rondo might not have worked in this current NBA era with how teams might guard him, but in that era, he was able to be enough of a threat that he was able to overcome his flaws.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

The Js, as they’re called in Boston, are two elite two-way wings in Boston. Tatum, before the injury, was a top-ten player in the league and was the engine of an elite Celtics offense. He’s also a high-level defender willing to guard whatever assignment is given him. Jaylen Brown was an elite athlete when he was drafted and developed into an elite offensive player, making him one of the best two-way wings in the league.

If you could ever point to a “type” for Ainge, it would be these two. Both ooze talent on both sides of the ball, and both are ferocious competitors who will do whatever it takes to win. If you wanted to describe the Ainge type, the easiest way to do it would be to simply say, “Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.”

Does Darryn Peterson fit the type?

This is probably an easy answer, but here is the long version. When you watch Darryn Peterson’s tape, it screams talent. On offense, he can do everything literally. He has a silky jumper that he can get off with a viper-quick release. He scores at all levels and in all ways with a savant-level touch and understanding of how to put the ball in the basket. His handle is underrated, along with his ability to make every pass. On defense, he was one of the best defensive prospects among the top prospects in the draft. His stocks (steals+blocks) are great, and he has the potential to be an elite defender with his 6’10” wingspan.

Basically, Darryn Peterson is an ELITE jumbo guard prospect who will play both sides of the ball. And in reality, defense is the only slight question the Jazz might have. Don’t believe me, this was the most important message Danny Ainge wanted to send to Peterson when he talked to him.

The other thing that Jazz fans should be excited about is how well Danny Ainge does spotting talent at the top of the draft. FanDuel has Darryn Peterson with the second-best odds at winning Rookie of the Year. With how well Danny Ainge picks players, that might be an easy bet.

It’s been a few days of hearing increasing whispers about the future (or rather a lack of it) of Mitchell Robinson in New York, but outside of that, we’ve talked more about cap machinations, draft-day trades, and all sorts of other things about what or what not to do following James Dolan’s second-apron mandate.

Well, with free agency opening on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET and just a few hours left for the market to get going, we’re starting to get more reports and information about the rest of the Knicks’ crop of free agents, including veteran guard Jordan Clarkson.

According to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, in an out-of-the-blue column posted on Sunday, Clarkson remains a legitimate candidate to return to New York despite the Knicks’ tough financial situation.

“Even with a mandate to avoid the second apron, I’ve heard Jordan Clarkson remains a possibility to re-sign with Knicks. Can’t rule out that reunion,” Bondy reported.

At the end of the day, Clarkson’s case to return is likely shaped by both role and cost.

Already 34, Clarkson signed a one-year minimum deal worth $2.3 million last offseason and is expected to command a similar contract this summer. With the Knicks having just around $14 million to fill four roster spots (two of those might go to the recently-drafted second-round rookies) after re-signing Mo Diawara and Jose Alvarado, bringing back Clarkson at something around $2.5 million wouldn’t disrupt the cap structure at all.

Clarkson’s first season in New York was uneven, to say the least. Clarkson appeared in 72 regular-season games, yes, but he averaged career lows of 8.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists while falling in and out of the rotation. As the veteran he is, however, JC was a strong presence in the locker room, stayed patient, and contributed during the postseason, appearing in 18 postseason games and playing a role in the NBA Finals as the Knicks secured their first title since 1973.

If Robinson (nearly guaranteed to leave) and Landry Shamet (likely to sign a big deal elsewhere) depart in free agency, the Knicks would retain their financial flexibility, although they’d definitely be losing their sixth and seventh/eighth-best players, both of them key rotational pieces.

In that scenario, Clarkson could return on another minimum deal and instantly become one of the best and most proven performers on the Knicks roster, pending further free-agent signings or trades for players under contract.

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.

The start of free agency is just hours away. While teams won’t be able to actually sign contracts until July 6th, they can start negotiating on June 30th, and there are a lot of interesting names both in the free agency pool and on the trade block. We’ve already had the massive Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami move, and there could be more coming.

The Spurs, coming off a Finals appearance in their return to the playoffs, might not go for a big splash, but they do have some roster spots to fill and some roles where they could use an upgrade or more experience. So let’s see what San Antonio needs, how it can get it, and what would make for a successful offseason.

Do the Spurs have cap space? How can they sign free agents?

The Spurs could technically carve up some minimal cap space, but in reality, they’ll act as an over-the-cap team. So what does that mean? Well, they’ll have the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception worth around $15 million at their disposal, as well as the bi-annual exception worth around $5.5 million since they didn’t use it last year. It should be enough to add some talent.

They will also be able to re-sign their own free agents if they have Bird rights to them without much concern, since they are well below the second apron. Whether they’ll have an interest in bringing most of them back is a different story, but there have been reports that they might try to keep Harrison Barnes. Currently, they have nine players under standard contracts, but that number will move to 11 once they sign their two first-round draft picks.

What about trades? Can the Spurs make something big happen?

The Spurs have young players, draft picks, and contracts large and small to make a big trade, but not without losing key contributors in the process. They had expendable expiring contracts last season, like Kelly Olynyk’s and Harrison Barnes’, to match salaries easily, but now to make a big move for an expensive player, they would have to include guys like Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and/or Luke Kornet, all of whom were in the rotation last year.

Does that mean there’s no chance a trade happens? Not really. Johnson and Kornet struggled in the playoffs, and despite their contributions in the regular season, the front office might consider them expendable. De’Aaron Fox also wasn’t at his best in the postseason, but Brian Wright has said the team remains committed to him. He’s also said he expects most of this group to be back, which likely means that while possible, a big move is unlikely.

What are the Spurs’ needs?

The Spurs have a strong foundation, but there’s one type of player that they are missing: a big forward who can shoot and also spend time as a small-ball center. Now, that type of player is extremely hard to find, and every team that doesn’t have one wants one, so there are not many available. Especially not proven playoff performers who could be had with the mid-level exception.

That said, San Antonio could still use someone who can fill one of the two roles. Among the available big forwards who can shoot, there are names like Tobias Harris, Sandro Mamukelashvili, John Collins, Saddiq Bey, and Rui Hachimura, among others, who will likely sign for mid-level exception money. The Spurs could also retain Barnes to fill that role or rely on the development of Carter Bryant.

Are there any Spurs-related rumors out there?

Unsurprisingly, the Spurs have been linked to a bunch of forwards, but there’s nothing concrete. They are reportedly “expected” to be interested in John Collins and Dean Wade, according to The Stein Line Mark Stein($) and HoopsHype Michael Scotto, respectively. Now, expected to be doesn’t mean they are, but they could be. Stein did say the Spurs are interested in Rui Hachimura, so that seems more of a report than speculation.

The Spurs were also linked to Kawhi Leonard by ESPN’s Bobby Marks and are reportedly one of the two franchises with which Leonard would sign an extension, with the other being the Raptors, according to Stein($). But while Toronto is reportedly interested in a reunion, there has been no news about whether San Antonio is. The answer, considering how badly things ended between franchise and player, is likely “no” even before considering the Clippers’ potentially high asking price.

What’s a realistic scenario for the Spurs in free agency?

Anything can happen in the NBA. We’ve seen signings and trades no one was expecting. But considering how good the Spurs were last season, the tools they have at their disposal to add talent and the few holes on the roster, it wouldn’t be surprising if this offseason is a quiet one for San Antonio.

As mentioned, getting a forward with size who can shoot is the biggest need for the Spurs. They will likely try to find someone using part of the entirety of the mid-level exception. Before the draft, getting a quality third big man seemed like a need, but after selecting two centers, including a seemingly NBA-ready big man in Tarris Reed Jr., it now seems like more of a luxury. Still, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to secure the services of either a shooting big man or a rim protector. If someone who can play is available, either with part of the mid-level exception or the bi-annual exception, it would be smart to secure their services.

It’s hard to name the targets when there haven’t been many reports about who the Spurs want, but a successful offseason would be to get, say, Rui Hachimura and Larry Nance Jr., or John Collins and Simone Fontecchio, for example. While those specific players might not be available, as long as the Spurs add some shooting and size, the offseason would be a success. If they retain Barnes, adding a big man or a guard for cheap to round out their roster would likely be the play.

When does free agency start again? And how can I remain informed?

Teams can start negotiating with free agents on Tuesday, June 30th, at 5 p.m. CT. Make sure to visit Pounding the Rock for all your Spurs-related news and discussion.

The Nets declined their $6.25 million team option for forward Ziaire Williams on Sunday, sources told The Post.

While Brooklyn could still end up re-signing Williams, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after spending the past two seasons with the Nets and is coming off a career year.

Since his cap hold is actually higher than what his salary was, the Nets wouldn’t save any space by declining his team option unless they actually go ahead and renounce his rights.

Williams averaged a career-high 10.2 points and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes last season, spread over 56 games (13 starts).

He missed the last five games with a left foot injury.

The Nets project to have $40 million in cap space, according to Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron, before their trade for Julius Randle becomes official.

It could be less if they decline center Day’Ron Sharpe’s team option and re-sign him to a new deal.

Brooklyn and Sharpe agreed to move the deadline for his team option back to Monday, sources told The Post.

There has been a lot of smoke over the past couple of days regarding Marcus Smart leaving for the Rockets.

Smart has a player option for the 2026-27 NBA season. Given how well he played on a relatively modest salary, it’s been reported that he could opt out for a bigger payday this summer, with the Rockets as a potential destination.

Now, late Sunday evening, Dan Woike of The Athletic is reporting that Smart is likely to opt out and that Houston is considered the favorite to land the guard.

As option day approaches, the belief around the league, according to multiple sources, is that Lakers guard Marcus Smart will opt out and seek a longer-term deal in unrestricted free agency. Smart, 32, was a critical piece for the Lakers last season, starting 54 of 62 games and giving the team its most consistent defensive presence on the perimeter. Smart’s best basketball came in the NBA postseason, when the short-handed Lakers upset Houston in the first round of the playoffs.

Strangely enough, according to team and league sources, the belief is that the Rockets will be the team most likely to land Smart once free agency opens on June 30 thanks to a multi-year deal. Smart played for Rockets coach Ime Udoka in Boston.

This is bad news for the Lakers. They reportedly wanted Smart back, but now it looks like that’s not in the cards for them.

Losing your best defensive guard in free agency doesn’t get you closer to being a title contender. Sure, Smart has his offensive limitations, but he is also a great defender and a hardworking player.

Ideally, Smart would be a Laker again, playing on a $5.4 million contract. And the Lakers could’ve still tried to find a starting guard so Smart could be slotted in a reserve role.

If this report becomes reality, they’ll have no choice but to replace Smart, likely with a far more expensive player, and good luck with that person being as good as Smart was last year.

Smart selecting the Rockets would add some additional salt to the Lakers’ wounds.

One game seperated the Lakers and Rockets in the regular season. If Smart switches sides, an argument can be made that Houston has gotten slightly better and Los Angeles is heading in the other direction.

There’s plenty of time left to shape this roster, but based on the rumors, there’s not much good news coming out about the purple and gold. This is likely why fans have limited confidence in this front office heading into this summer.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

So how we feeling? Better, it seems, than we did 1) at the end of the season; 2) after the Lottery; 3) when the Canyon of Heroes was filled with orange and blue.

It wasn’t just the trade for Julius Randle, the selection of Micbael Brown Jr. (and Joshua Jefferson) in the first round or the possibilities ahead. At its simplest, it’s the feeling that it’s been down so long, it looks like up to me. The fan base, fickle as it is, seems energized by recent events. Screw all those pundits and Knick fans who think the franchise should fold, return to the swamps of Jersey or relocate in Seattle! We are home in Brooklyn, New York, and plan to say … as MBJ might say. Be Brooklyn!

Yeah, yeah, they have a very long way to go. Things can go wrong, etc. Bad luck from KD’s foot on the line to injuries at critical moments to bad lottery luck are all part of the Nets fan experience, but for the moment, at least, it’s best to be optimistic. And luck can change.

Brown of course is the biggest part of the good feelings around Barclays Center and the HSS Training Center and the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center where he will be introduced to the media along with Jefferson and second round pick Tyler Bilodeau Monday afternoon.

The kid is refreshing in his comments and in his game. He, too, has a long way to go. He’s still on the smaller side and he understands that. He still needs to take care of the ball better. He needs to show his back injury is behind him.

Yes, he loves being in Brooklyn, but playing in New York is a challenge for even the strongest of personalities. But Sean Marks & co. think that he can become something special and indeed, at the moment, Christopher Mikel Brown Jr. son of Christopher Mikel Brown Sr. and Marisella Brown-Caraballo, at age 20 is the face of the franchise until otherwise notified.

So, let’s delve a little more into his history, starting with a three-part YouTube video that seems to have escaped a lot of attention in the build-up to the Draft. It deals with his rise from being undersized (5’10”) and under appreciated to his decisions to join Adidas and Louisville two years back. In includes interviews with him, his mother and father who also served as a coach growing up. Appropriately, it’s entitled, “The Point of It All.”

Brown’s father is the co-star, it should be noted and Coach Chris Brown takes no prisoners, is quick to defend his son as he did when Louisville fans came after ‘Kel. Then when his son got taken in the Draft, he was prepared with receipts…

And what did father say to son when his name got called? “what are they going to say now?!”

Brown Jr. also got the Steve Serby treatment this week. Serby, a New York Post writer famous for his lengthy interviews with sports figures, spoke with Brown this week. The headline is simple: Asked, “What do you think you’re capable of?” he responded “Being one of the all-time greats.”

Here’s some other sample Q. and A.

Q: Your general manager (Sean Marks) said that you have a chip on your shoulder, tell me why.

A: Just because at the end of the day there’s people selected over me. So that just drives me every single day. I’m self-driven to be the best version of myself. So that means I have a chip on my shoulder wherever I go.

Q: You’re going to have a natural rivalry with Darius Acuff. What are your thoughts on that?

A: Basketball nowadays, that rivalry brings along a lot of fans, and more people want to watch and it’s competitive. We know we’re going to see each other for the rest of our lives, so buckle up.

Q: Describe your on-court mentality.

A: Passionate, competitive, me being a dawg and also just me being able to create for others, like being a connector as well.

Q: I’m getting the feeling that you see yourself as a killer or an assassin on the court? Am I right?

A: Yes.

Q: Why don’t you feel pressure?

A: Because I hold myself to a certain expectation that I expect to hit every single time just because I know how much work I’ve put in.

Q: If you could build the perfect point guard, what would you take from Mikel Brown Jr.?

A: We would take his ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and others.

Q: Why would I enjoy playing with you?

A: Just because I’m always for my teammates, I’m always about making other guys better around me, putting them in the right positions to whether that’s score, defensively, just constantly communicating with them. And I also think I’m a great teammate as well, very personable, I want to get to know you because that transmits to on the court as well so now you got the true trust in you that you know what you’re doing.

Heady stuff, obviously, and if he doesn’t perform, those words will be thrown at him by media, fans, maybe even coaches. But that’s the way it goes in New York City and the NBA.

About that rivalry with Acuff, taken at No. 7, it goes back to high school. Their most recent encounter came in December when Louisville faced off against Arkansas…

As our Collin Helwig noted this week, there will be two more confrontations next month, the first in Sacramento on July 4 at 5:00 p.m. ET, the second in Las Vegas on July 14 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Both will be televised. All three of Brooklyn’s games in Sacramento will be televised on the YES Network/Gotham Sports Net, while the Vegas games will be split between ESPN, ESPN U, and Amazon Prime. More details on Vegas TV schedule soon.

Busy week ahead

—Monday, June 29: Sean Marks will introduce the three draft picks to the media at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center. We might also see the Summer League roster released and the identity of the head coach revealed. More news: Day’Ron Sharpe whose team option must be exercised. MPJ’s 28th birthday.

—Tuesday, June 30: the Summer League team will hold its first practice at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn. Teams can contact free agents.

—Wednesday, July 1: another Summer League practice in Brooklyn after which the team will depart for Sacramento and the California Classic. Two-way contracts can be signed.

—Thursday, July 2: Summer League team in Sacramento

—Friday, July 3: The Summer League team holds practice in Sacramento.

—Saturday, July 4: Happy 250th birthday USA! Nets Summer League team faces the Kings at 5:00 p.m. ET. Mikel Brown Jr. vs. Darius Acuff. See below for details.

—Sunday, July 5: Nets Summer League team faces the Bucks at 3:00 p.m. ET. Mikel Bridges vs. Nate Ament.

—Monday, July 6: Teams can sign free agents and trades become official, including the exchange of Nic Claxton for Julius Randle, which likely will have been expanded.

Every picture tells a story, story

A lot of Nets fans have been posting variants of this picture in recent days:

First of all, how tall is that guy on the right?? Has he grown beyond the 6’9.5″ he was measured at in sneakers a year ago? Lots of suggestions that he has.

Beyond that, however, there’s something quite important about the image of the 20-year-olds. They are the two highest Nets draft picks in 16 years: Michael Brown Jr. at No. 6 last week and Egor Demin at No. 8 last year. And neither of those picks would have been available to Brooklyn if they hadn’t exchanged picks with the Rockets on June 25, 2024, the companion to the Mikal Bridges trade with the Knicks that same night. The Nets had lost those picks in the James Harden trade and if they were going to rebuild properly, they wanted control of their picks in two generational drafts.

So far, it’s worked out. It might’ve worked better if the Nets had better luck in the two lotteries but the Nets are happy with both Demin and Brown.

To get those two picks back, the Nets gave up two Phoenix Suns pick acquired in the 2023 Kevin Durant trade: last year’s first which turned into Khaman Maluach, next year’s Suns first plus — take your time to read this: the swap rights to the two most favorable of the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets 1st round picks in 2029. Brooklyn will retain the least favorable of the first round draft picks that draft. (No, despite the shorthand favored by some, the Nets didn’t trade four firsts for two and none of the assets Sean Marks & co. gave up that night were Brooklyn’s own picks. They were all picks from the trades of James Harden, Kyrie Irving and KD.)

Because they got all those Knicks picks for Mikal Bridges that same night, the Nets hedged their bets and if things don’t work out with the 2025 and 2026 firsts they still have those unprotected Knicks firsts in 2027, 2029 and 2031 plus a first round swap with the Knicks (and one with the Suns as well) in 2028. They also retain their own firsts picks in each of drafts between 2027 and 2033 and have the Sixers’ first in 2028, 1-8 protected. Yes, they also have the Nuggets first in 2032 from the Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson trade

Moreover, the 2027 Draft is viewed as historically bad and 2028 not a particularly good one. Too early to tell about 2029. We wrote about the June 25, 2024 trades a few months back laying it all out.

Draft Sleeper of the Week

How’d we do? Okay. We profiled both Brown and Jefferson in previous Off-Season Reports. We missed on Tyler Bilodeau. He was a real sleeper. Most mocks didn’t have him at all, although ESPN’s last mock had him at No. 60, long after where the Nets took him at No. 43.

Two-Way Contracts, etc.

Last season, the Nets signed two two-way deals early, inking Tyson Etienne and E.J. Liddell in the summer, then waiting till Christmas to get Chaney Johnson under contract. Starting Wednesday, teams can sign this season’s two ways and two spots are already spoken for: Johnson will be back. The Nets tendered him a two-way qualifying offer this week and Tyler Bilodeau, the Nets second round pick, is also reportedly destined for Long Island. The third pick? Doubt we’ll have to wait as long as we did last season to learn his identity.

Two-ways make half the basic vets minimum or about $650,000. Players can be active for a maximum of 50 NBA regular-season games before they must be converted to a standard deal or waived. The deals do not count against the cap.

Also as we’ve noted, the Nets are signing three players to Exhibit 10s. Brian Lewis reported that the Nets had signed Dion Brown a 6’3” guard who most recently played for St. Louis University and Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express reported Ben Humrichous, a 6’9” combo forward who came off the bench for Illinois last year. Finally, Dylan Johnson of The Villanovan, the student newspaper, reported 6’10” Wildcat center Duke Brennan will be joining the Nets starting with Summer League next month. Signing an Exhibit 10 means both will likely spent the majority of the 2026-27 season in Long Island following training camp in Brooklyn. If they stay 60 days in the G League, they can pick up a signing bonus worth as much as $77,000.

Final Note

We’ve seen a number of pundits list the Nets as among those teams interested in free agents and trade targets, from Keon Ellis to Rui Hachimura to the big one, Jaylen Brown. Teams can start talking to free agents startinon Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Expect news before then.

The Heat are expected to remain busy this offseason.

And in reality, they have no choice.

The three-time NBA champions made a big swing earlier this week, landing Giannis Antetokounmpo after a year-long pursuit, and now they’re looking to add role players to fill out the rest of their roster in hopes of being title contenders.

Multiple reports, including one from Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson, have tied the Heat to several guard and wing options who are expected to hit free agency beginning on June 30.

Jackson, in particular, cited that the Heat want “at least two skilled 3-point shooters in free agency” and offered a list of candidates to join the team — including Anfernee Simons, who spent time with the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls this season, Landry Shamet, who played a vital role on the championship-winning Knicks, Tim Hardaway Jr., who has been a Denver Nugget, and Quentin Grimes, who has become a fixture with the Philadelphia 76ers.

It is expected that the Heat will pursue veteran shooters as part of their roster construction around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, who immediately become one of the more talented duos in the NBA, especially on the defensive end.

Antetokounmpo, who is the last player to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, led the Bucks to their second NBA title, and first in 50 years, during the 2020-21 season, and that followed back-to-back MVP seasons.

The consecutive 10-time All-Star joins Adebayo, who has been on an All-Defense team all but one year he’s been an NBA starter, taking home the honors in six of his last seven seasons.

A three-time All-Star in his own right, Adebayo has also been integral in back-to-back Team USA gold medals in the Summer Olympics, winning with the 2021 and 2024 editions of the team.

The Dallas Mavericks added Morez Johnson, Jr., Sergio DeLarrea, Tobi Lawal and Vsevolod Ischenko to their roster via the 2026 NBA Draft. With that behind them, the Mavs now need to reshape their roster in other ways, including determining which of their own free agents they wish to retain, and how much they are willing to spend on them.

Dallas has a pair in Marvin Bagley and Brandon Williams that are unrestricted free agents this offseason. The former was considered a throw-in on the Anthony Davis trade by some; not much more than an expiring contract that would give Dallas flexibility. The latter has been with Dallas for the past three seasons and has contributed well off the bench, with plenty of starting gigs thrown in.

Preliminary reports are surfacing from Kevin Gray, Jr. that other teams have interest in both players. Candidly, the Bagley report is light on details, suggesting no specific teams, though indicating an expected salary range of the taxpayer mid-level exception (roughly $5.6M).

Williams on the other hand, expects to have interest from the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors in addition to the Mavericks, with no real insight on a price tag.

“Free agents drawing interest from teams” is hardly news. Neither of these players are about to wash out of the league, so it is hardly surprising that both will garner interest. The real question is what the Mavericks want to do here.

Picking up Johnson, Jr. in the draft may make it difficult to find a spot for Bagley, though some of the other front court veterans could be moved as the roster takes shape. In the case of Williams, does Dallas perhaps have an eye on retaining him to maintain their guard ranks? With Brayden Burries still on the board, Dallas opted instead for Johnson, Jr., so whereas Williams may not be the guard of the future, he is likely of relatively high interest to the Mavs as Kyrie Irving works his way back from injury.

Dallas would be wise to consider Bagley, especially if trade rumors surrounding Daniel Gafford are true. While not a true center, Bagley can certainly provide minutes at the position, and with Dereck Lively still an unknown quantity, another big body would be a boon to Dallas’ frontcourt. Bagley had himself a number of double-doubles on efficient shooting in his short time with the Mavs and showed he fit well alongside Cooper Flagg. His tenacity on the boards was something sorely lacking on the team prior to his arrival as well. Even with the potential redundancy caused by Johnson, Jr., Bagley could be a nice player to retain unless Dallas otherwise shores up their center rotation – especially at $5.6M; a relative steal.

Williams may be a player the Mavs are more willing to say goodbye to. Williams is not the guard solution for the future and they still have Ryan Nembhard under contract. For now, he will be behind Irving and splitting time with Nembhard, which may make him less of a factor overall, especially if Irving can spool up to meaningful minutes quickly. While Dallas does need to bolster its guard rotation, it seems more plausible they could do so with a replacement. It should be noted however, that Mavs’ GM Mike Schmitz was in Portland when Williams entered the league there, and that could impact the team’s motivation.

Free agency season is just days away, so it won’t be long until we see how things begin to shake out.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Just three days after shipping LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte has reportedly traded Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns in another franchise-altering move. The reported deal sends Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick to Phoenix in exchange for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick.

Charlotte has now moved on from the two faces of its franchise in the span of a week. Instead of chasing the Play-In Tournament, the Hornets are stockpiling long-term assets around a younger core led by Brandon Miller, rookie Kon Knueppel, and recently acquired Naz Reid. Sure, Allen and O’Neale are capable veterans, but the real prize is future flexibility and another first-round pick.

The Hornets looked like a club trying to climb into the middle of the East after last season, posting a 33-16 record after January 1, 2026 and finishing the regular season at 44-38. They were competitive and could have tried to build around Ball/Bridges/Miller for a higher ceiling. Instead, Jeff Peterson has decided to clean house. Bridges is 28, coming off a solid season (around 17/6/3), and still on a relatively team-friendly contract. Phoenix has reportedly targeted him for years and was willing to give up a future first plus two rotation wings. That’s a nice return for a good-but-not-elite player on a non-contender.

The deal reportedly saves Phoenix luxury tax money. For Charlotte it also opens up minutes, cap space, and developmental reps. Allen and O’Neale are plug-and-play veterans who shoot well and know winning basketball. They help the young players learn without the pressure of carrying a playoff push that maybe wasn’t realistic.

It seems that several Eastern teams are choosing patience rather than trying to keep pace with New York, Detroit, Cleveland, and the upper crust of the conference. That’s cool with us. Every rival that decides the future matters more than the present makes the road back to the Finals a little cleaner.

Go Knicks.

Around and around and around it goes. Darryn Peterson’s prophesied selection with the second overall NBA Draft pick brought about a struggle that has spanned through generations — his preferred jersey number had already been claimed.

For NBA basketball players, a jersey number is much more than an arbitrary digit (unless you’re Dwight Howard, I suppose); it’s an identity synonymous with one’s own name. When you see the number 23, your mind likely flips to one of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Lauri Markkanen — three players of equal legacy and impact on the history of professional hoops. This is what stood at stake for Utah’s newest budding star: the difference between maintaining your identity and crafting one anew.

And that identity had already been claimed by one Kyle Filipowski.

“I’m going to have to see what he’s willing to do to give that up,” Peterson pondered in the wake of his draft results.

This could have been a threat to Filipowski’s manhood. A direct attempt to revoke a man’s pride while staring him directly in the eyes. It’s humiliating; it’s emasculating. One would leave this empasse as top dog, the other with his tail between his legs.

“…but if not, I might try to rock, 8,” conceded the newest member of the Utah Jazz, fully unaware of Isaiah Collier, who was already quite comfortable in that chair, having already changed his number once before from 13.

Ultimately, the rookie won out. Darryn Peterson maintains his brand and recaptures his pride at the expense of Filipowski. Apologies, owners of the now-outdated 22 uniforms — your asset’s value has depreciated faster than a timeshare on Alderaan.

So, what comes next for Filipowski? Well, the answer is simple, of course. Just peel the second digit from the uniform, and the former Blue Devil converts to the number 2.

Oh, but what about Blake Hinson? You remember. Blake Hinson, the late two-way addition the Jazz brought on last season. He was pretty good! …He also wore the number 2 and is still signed with Utah through the offseason. His number has been taken, so who’s up next?

Not to worry — Mo Bamba will totally be cool about this.

With the 2026 NBA Draft in the rearview, the Dallas Mavericks are shifting focus to free agency and trades to refurbish their roster around Cooper Flagg. A number of sources are now reporting that Dallas has not only inquired about the availability of Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, but that the two teams have had discussions about an actual framework for a trade.

The rumored transaction would be Dallas sending out P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and draft capital in exchange for Leonard. Despite Leonard’s age and injury history, and subject to the actual draft capital in question, this is arguably a no-brainer for the Mavericks.

Thompson is 36-years old and came to the team with a desire to play alongside Luka Doncic and to be the finishing piece on a championship contender. Then Nico Harrison happened. Thompson no longer fits the timeline of Flagg and newly drafted rookie Morez Johnson, Jr. as the Mavericks shift to a future-focused approach, as per President Masai Ujiri in his introductory press conference.

Washington is a 27-year old in his prime and is just about to kick off a team-friendly contract extension. He was an integral part of the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals in 2024, but was well-served playing alongside Doncic. With all due respect to Washington, he is not the caliber of player Leonard is, and if the team is going to remain wing-heavy, upgrading from Washington to Leonard is a clear benefit from the talent and production standpoints.

The knocks on Leonard are his age (35 years old on Monday) and injury history. While there is simply no sugar-coating the injuries and time missed, Leonard actually played nine more games last year than Washington did. With the exception of 2024-2025, Leonard has played no fewer than 52 games in the past five seasons, including outings of 65 games and 68 games. Leonard would also be a rental. He is an unrestricted free agent following this season, which may be a good thing depending on how you look at it – he could make the Mavs competitive next year, then clear a massive ($50M) contract off the books for next offseason.

There are two major points of curiosity here, however. Ujiri proclaimed the Mavs were thinking about the future and a move like this runs completely contrary to that notion. Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Flagg would be a formidable three-headed monster right now. Further, Dallas has very limited draft capital. They only have a first-round pick in 2027 if it falls into the top two slots (otherwise it goes to the Charlotte Hornets), a 2028 pick swap with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers 2029 pick. Unless the Clippers are desperate to move off Leonard’s sizable contract and are not demanding much in the way of first round picks, the draft capital part of the equation here is puzzling.

If Dallas and Los Angeles make this move, it adds a brand new and wholly unexpected wrinkle to the Mavericks’ plans. Everyone believed the team would be rebuilding over the next few years, but this move is for right now. It would leave Dallas as an “if” team – that is, if Irving returns to form and Leonard stays healthy, they could be legitimate contenders for the next couple of years.

Check back often as we continue to follow this story here at Mavs Moneyball.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Kawhi Leonard remains a name to watch in the hours leading up to the start of the NBA free agency period on June 30.

The Toronto Raptors and the Dallas Mavericks appear interested in exploring a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, if they are willing to move on from Leonard.

Leonard has just one year left on his current contract and would make $50.3 million next season. If he does not sign an extension, he will become a free agent in 2027. The 7-time All-Star played in 65 games last season, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Toronto would serve as familiar territory for Leonard, as he helped lead the franchise to its NBA championship in 2019.

The Raptors would rather trade Brandon Ingram in the potential deal for Leonard rather than including RJ Barrett, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.

HORNETS STRIKE AGAIN: Trade Miles Bridges to Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale

Everyone in life is under some sort of pressure.

Whether it’s a massive responsibility in your job, your family, or your education, there’s always something riding on your decisions. That’s a fact of life.

Pressure can be a good thing, it can get the most out of you. As the old saying goes, pressure creates diamond.

But it can also create rubble. Too much pressure and you and everything around you will crumble. It takes a certain type of person to overcome such pressure.

Now imagine the weight of tens of millions of people on your shoulders. A type of pressure only similarly faced by presidents of entire nations. There’s a reason those guys seem to age decades in four to eight years.

When Mikal Bridges was traded to the Knicks for one of the largest draft pick packages in the history of the sport, he became the most intensely-watched non-All-Star in the history of professional sports. For the rest of his career, he’d be tasked with making himself worth all those picks that were given to Brooklyn.

If the Knicks never accomplished their ultimate goals, their failure would forever be linked, fair or not, to giving a king’s ransom for a complimentary starter.

Would he be remembered in Knicks history the same way Eddy Curry, Jerome James, and Andrea Bargnani were if they never got over the hump? I guess we’ll never know.

Bridges was born on August 30, 1996, in Philadelphia. He grew up in the city, but moved out to the suburbs in Chester County in middle school, eventually attending Great Valley High School in Malvern. A sophomore year growth spurt saw his basketball future come into clearer focus, eventually becoming one of the best players in Southeast Pennsylvania.

As a four-star recruit and a top-100 player in the nation, he chose Villanova over Penn State and Florida. There were three other players in Pennsylvania ranked over him in the Class of 2014; none of them reached the NBA.

At Nova, he did what many players did under Jay Wright; he paid his dues. He redshirted in 2014-15 and emerged as a key bench piece for the eventual national champions the following year, pouring in 11 points to their utter decimation of Oklahoma in the Final Four before logging 15 minutes in the thrilling final against UNC.

As a sophomore, he overhauled his jumpshot and raised his three-point percentage from 30% to 39.5%, joining the starting lineup for good by mid-November due to an injury to Phil Booth. It ultimately led to him winning Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Side-by-side with the likes of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, and more, the Wildcats were once again contenders to win the whole thing, but were shocked by Wisconsin in the Round of 32. Bridges failed to make a single shot in that game.

Entering his redshirt junior season, he made even more strides as a scorer, serving as a perfect Robin to Brunson’s Batman, averaging 17 points on 43% from behind the arc and being named a Consensus All-American. His best games would come in the biggest moments, dropping 28 on Gonzaga in a neutral-site tournament, 25 in the Big East Championship Game, and 19 in the national championship game, going out as a two-time national champion.

Declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft, Bridges was the top NBA prospect on the team. DiVincenzo snuck into the lottery, and Brunson was reduced to a second-round pick, but Bridges was picked No. 10 overall by his hometown Sixers. His mom still worked for the team. It was the dream of all dream scenarios.

And then he was traded.

After all the emotions poured out with the possibility of staying home, Brett Brown traded him 25 minutes later for Zhaire Smith and a first-round pick. The pick would go on to be part of the Tobias Harris package a year later.

Putting aside how cruel that is from a front office to pull on a city and family’s heartstrings like that after making the pick, it shows the hubris and self-inflicted nature of the Sixers’ failure to build a winner around Joel Embiid. They’ve had so many talented players in their organization and decided to punt all of them for pennies on the dollar.

Jared McCain for scraps because your owner is cheap. Julian Champagnie, so you could have Mac McClung wear a Sixers jersey at the dunk contest. Bridges for a dude who’d be out of the league in three years and an overpaid wing that the city would despise. Oh yeah, they also let Jimmy Butler walk to give that same guy $150 million.

This is a franchise that deserved what they got.

But that’s a story for later. Bridges was now in Phoenix, where he’d soon be groomed as a quality 3-and-D starter around a core of Devin Booker and, soon, Chris Paul. He started out pretty innocently as a low-usage starter/sixth-man who would be the team’s defensive backbone.

The Suns weren’t playing many meaningful games, but it was clear Mikal was a winning player. He was a deflection machine on defense, and his jumper translated in his second season. In the bubble, he was a big part of the Suns’ 8-0 run that put them on the cusp of the postseason.

Bridges took on more responsibility in 2020-21 as a valuable third option behind Paul and Booker, benefitting beautifully from the Point God’s playmaking while being one of the best shooters in basketball. As the Suns evolved into one of the best teams in basketball, he was their heart and soul on both ends.

The Suns ripped through the postseason, with Bridges being tasked with guarding the likes of LeBron James and Paul George on their road to the NBA Finals. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and a determined Bucks team on the other side, Phoenix built a 2-0 lead, with Bridges himself scoring 27 points in one of the best games of his entire career. They could taste it.

But their hubris got the best of them. They got too confident, and the Bucks won the next four games to snatch the championship away from them. Utter heartbreak, but you had confidence they’d be back.

They wouldn’t.

Bridges stagnated offensively in 2021-22, but got to another level defensively. After never making an All-Defensive Team in his career, he took advantage of a weak field to grab second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Marcus Smart, but come playoff time, the Suns fell well short of expectations as a 64-win team.

Pressure got to the Suns’ front office midway through the following season. Their core was good, but they felt the desperation. The pressure was on them to get over the hump, so they decided to swing a trade for Kevin Durant at the deadline, shipping Bridges out in a massive package to a suddenly rebuilding Brooklyn.

But instead of falling into a malaise like many who go to a bad situation, Bridges played the best basketball of his career there, averaging 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 109 games across 1.5 seasons for a miserable Nets team, playing every single game to continue his Ironman streak.

Rumors circulated his entire time there of him reuniting with his Nova Brothers in New York. Hart, Brunson, and DiVincenzo had formed a compelling trio on the other side of the city and Bridges separately played with Hart and Brunson separately at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he made a tremendous highlight play.

The long-anticipated trade talks soon commenced after the 2023-24 season and culminated while I was on vacation in Italy. I woke up to one of the most stunning trades of my life.

Leon Rose had gone all-in. Bridges was expected to be a supercharged version of what he was in Phoenix. His defense slipped in Brooklyn at the expense of high offensive usage, but the Knicks hoped to find a balance to make him a dangerous two-way option.

With Karl-Anthony Towns suddenly joining the equation in late September, his importance was even larger to cover up for multiple defensive liabilities.

The pressure on him to live up to everything was immediate, which might’ve been why he looked to rework his jumpshot to become the dead-eye shooter he was during the 2021 NBA Finals run. It didn’t work… at all.

He was miserable from three in the preseason and to start the 2024-25 season. Through 17 games, he was shooting a flat 30% on 6.5 attempts a game. You could already hear the whispers behind the scenes as the Knicks struggled with the Celtics and Cavaliers to open the season.

Bridges was able to silence the doubters in late December, with a multi-game stretch of sharp shooting that peaked with a 40-point masterpiece on Christmas against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

But he had a slow January after that and never quite got into a groove offensively. Outside of some massive individual moments to steal two crucial wins late in the season, you never got the game-breaking ability he was once capable of.

His mid-range was as automatic as it gets, and he was one of the best finishers in basketball, but he was constantly underwhelming. Any time you looked around on social media or watched sports programming, it was:

“We traded five first-round picks for this?”

Through the first five games of the Detroit series, the murmurs grew louder. He missed a potential game-tying shot in Game 2, and his inconsistent offense wasn’t helping. But as he has consistently done, he responded with a massive Game 6 to help them move on.

Then, against the Celtics, he had two of the most legendary defensive plays in franchise history to stonewall the defending champions and grab control of the series by the neck. In the same arena, he had a tumultuous team debut, and he had a huge fourth quarter in Game 2 after a terrible start to the game.

It can be argued that Bridges was the MVP of that series, and it temporarily changed the narrative surrounding him. After all, we got him because he’s a 16-game player, not an 82-game player. He didn’t play badly against Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals, but struggled to contain Tyrese Haliburton after putting Jaylen Brown in a box against Boston.

As the Knicks decided to run back the same core in 2025-26, sans Tom Thibodeau, the pressure only grew stronger. Add some Giannis rumors into the mix, the pressure on Bridges became unfathomable.

“We seriously traded those picks for him when we could’ve waited for Giannis?”
“We’re going to waste the entire Brunson era because we traded all our assets for a role player.”

His play in the regular season was just as uneven as it was the previous year. This time, he came out with a rejuvenated jumpshot and was the league’s best corner 3 shooter for several months. He’d have flashes of brilliance, including a 35-point game in a six-point loss to Boston and a hyper-efficient 30-ball in Toronto in January.

But the lows were excruciating. After a strong start to March, he averaged just 10.6 points per game on mediocre shooting in the final 20 games of the regular season. The shouts got louder.

“How much of a sell low would it be if we traded him?”
“Could we send him and KAT to Milwaukee for Giannis?”

It didn’t get any better to start the playoffs. Bridges scored 36 points total across the first five games. He once again missed a game-winner in Game 2. When the Knicks fell behind 1-2, the pressure reached an all-time high. He was reportedly in tears after Game 3. It reached a breaking point.

Pressure was creating rubble.

Until Game 6. A nifty 24 points on 12 shots contributed to the historic beatdown in Atlanta and springboarded his dominant run through the rest of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

From Game 6 against Atlanta to Game 3 against Cleveland, he averaged 19.1 points on 69.1/47.6/100 shooting. He was shooting an unfathomable 75% from inside the arc. No matter what, he made big play after big play on both ends of the floor.

Even when he struggled in the closeout game against Cleveland, he made a big shot late in the first half to snatch whatever was left of their souls.

In the NBA Finals, he was fairly quiet for much of the series, but showed up in a big way in Game 2 with an efficient 20-6-6 as Brunson struggled, similar to the 2018 NCAA Final.

As the series went on, his defense on Stephon Castle got better and better. In Game 5, he was quite literally the only person other than Brunson who could make a shot. When the captain sat, his longtime friend kept the game from getting out of hand.

By the time the buzzer sounded, all the emotions flooded out. You want to know what it looks like when a lifetime of pressure condensed into two years finally gets released from your shoulders? When the disappointment of the past culminates in the ultimate glory? It looks like this:

In the end, all that pressure created a diamond. It created an NBA champion, freed from the shackles of a trade that would’ve defined him and his career until the day he died if they didn’t ever get it done.

It’s no coincidence that, not long after the buzzer sounded, the usually reserved and PR-trained Bridges went absolutely wild on Instagram Live and at the parade. He reached basketball nirvana. Nothing could bother him now.

As he begins a four-year extension next year, he can do so knowing that his contributions to a champion has forever made that trade worth it and that it’ll no longer define him. Maybe it’ll make the modern-day Ironman play looser and we’ll see another level from him next season.

But that’s for October. Enjoy it, Mikal, you’re an NBA champion.

–

(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)

NBA teams can officially start negotiating with free agents beginning at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The Warriors are “expected to top out at” around $15 million for LeBron James and are reportedly interested in acquiring Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons.

Since the offseason began, there has been plenty of speculation that the Warriors want to pair James with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

On June 18, ESPN NBA insider Anthony Slater revealed the Warriors are willing to offer James a non-taxpayer, mid-level, team-friendly deal of $15.1 million this offseason, and it appears that number will remain the same.

The Warriors’ reported offer would be the lowest offer James has received in free agency and would be the lowest annual salary he’s had since he signed a four-year, $60 million extension with the Cavaliers in 2007.

James is set to enter his 24th NBA season and will turn 42 in late December. Last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers, who reportedly have not made an offer to the unrestricted free agent.

The Warriors and James have a long history. He played Golden State in four consecutive NBA Finals with the Cavaliers beginning in 2015. The Warriors got the better of James by winning those matchups in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

If the Warriors don’t end up landing James and decide to go after Simons or Sexton, it would likely be a battle between the two guards, who became teammates in the middle of last season.

Last season, Simons started with the Celtics but was traded at the NBA deadline to the Bulls. He played a pivotal part in the Celtics’ offense while Boston was without Jayson Tatum for most of the season.

Simons averaged 14.2 points and 2.4 assists per game last season.

Sexton started the season with the Hornets after he was traded by the Jazz.

Sexton saw increased minutes when he landed in Chicago and started averaging more points per game (17.5) and rebounds (2.9).