Feb 12, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) defends during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As the annual NBA free agent and trade market heats up, two former Blue Devil teammates are on the move: Brandon Ingram has been traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, while Luke Kennard has left the Los Angeles Lakers and signed with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent.
L.A. also got Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round swap, and two unidentified second-round picks.
Leonard is a wonderful player, but he’s 35 now and he’s missed significant parts of every season since 2022-23. Last year, he did play 65 games, but that means he still missed 17 games, and that was his best year in a while.
The odds of that improving a lot at 35 are not that great, and he’s on the back end of his career already, so in the long run, you’d have to think that the Clippers will come out ahead.
As for Kennard and the Suns, he will fill in nicely for the recently traded Grayson Allen. Kennard, Allen, and going forward, Kon Knueppel, are all tremendous three-point shooters. Basically, if you want a three-point ace, look to Duke.
Jan 21, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trent Noah (9) fives guard Denzel Aberdeen during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Looking at the roster for this Kentucky Basketball team, there are a lot of new faces in Lexington as well as some returning players. A lot of players are hyped up in the offseason, but oftentimes, a player will surprise fans and media members with the impact they make on the court.
Who could be that surprise for Kentucky this season? Well, Jon Rothstein recently asked Mark Pope about that on an episode of Inside College Basketball Now, and Pope indicated there are multiple players who could be a surprise this season.
Pope first pointed to Ousmane N’Diaye, the 6’11 Senegalese forward who most recently played in Italy. Pope pointed to N’Diaye’s length and shot-making ability as attributes that stood out and could really surprise people this season.
Pope also pointed to Justin McBride, a name we’ve heard mentioned quite a bit in practices. Pope pointed to McBride’s versatility and physicality, as well as his college experience, as attributes that could lead him to have a breakout season.
Franck Kepnang is another guy Pope mentioned, but noted that Kepnang’s health will be a key factor in how much impact he has.
However, Pope really keyed in on Trent Noah.
“Trent Noah is physical,” Pope told Rothstein. “And he can really shoot it. Part of the issue last year was when we lost our point guard, we lost a real creator vibe on our roster. You know, it hurt also guys like Trent who might not manufacture a lot of shots, but if shots can be manufactured for him, he’s going to make them all, it feels like.”
Pope also mentioned Braydon Hawthorne as a guy who has a high ceiling and a ton of potential.
You can check out this clip where Pope talks about the different players who could be surprises.
Stephen Curry and LeBron James have grown closer over the years. Photograph: Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images
It’s official: LeBron Jameswill not finish his career as a Los Angeles Laker. The talking heads are in a gnashing froth. ESPN’s Shams Charania has become the first human being in recorded history to somehow get less than zero sleep over a 24-hour period. Steph Curry is widening his eyes. Bronny James is secretly relishing the chance to forge his own identity as he says “I’ll miss you, Dad.” James hasn’t been the best player in the league for more than half a decade, but at 41 he remains the most decorated and the one who commands the most coverage. So let’s indulge in a time-honored tradition one last time: wild speculation over where the King will play next season.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors seem to be the odds-on favorite to land James, but it still feels silly typing this out. Picture Thanos joining the Avengers. Lionel Messi defecting to Portugal. Andy Murray coaching Novak Djokovic … well, that one did actually happen.
James waged an uphill war against Golden State for four straight years in the 2010s, trying to will his usually undermanned Cavaliers squad to an unlikely win over one of the finest teams ever assembled. His lone success on that mission came in 2016, and remains the crown jewel of his career. But there were more bad times than good: JR Smith’s tragicomic gaffe in the 2018 finals; what would have been an all-time carry job sputtering out of gas after taking a 2-1 lead in 2015; going up against Warriors teams in 2017 and 2018 who were essentially impossible for him to beat with the teammates he had. Clips of James blocking Curry’s layups and then jawing at him, or Draymond Green trying to swat the King out of the air, still inspire vivid emotions in plenty of fans. And now James would join ranks with his old enemy?
Well, yes. James and Curry (and even Green) have grown close over the years. They played together on Olympic squads and the synergy was beautiful. Alongside Curry, Green and potentially LeBron’s ex-Laker teammate Anthony Davis, the New Warriors would be the most feelgood team in recent memory. Besides, this move would be entirely in line with James’s history. He’s never been afraid of angering fans, maybe to a fault. (Recall those burned jerseys after The Decision.) He’s always zigged when fans wanted him to zag. While other players shamelessly imitated Michael Jordan, James charted his own path in his own style until fans accepted him as at least equally great. Why not join the team that tormented him for years?
This Unc-tastic crew would brew nostalgia by the gallon. The modern NBA is powered by youth and durability, and nobody should be under any illusions that this team would be headed towards a pasture remotely greener than “every crucial player gets injured within five games of the season starting”. Still, the vibes before that inevitable train wreck would be fabulous.
Likelihood: 55%
Cleveland Cavaliers
The lone option that could beat the Warriors for good feels. In his Sports Illustrated essay announcing his return to Cleveland in 2014, James wrote “I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when.” Did that belief change when he left Cleveland for LA in 2018, or has a final stint with the Cavs been the plan all along? Dumped out of the Eastern Conference finals in four games by the Knicks, including an epic Game 1 collapse, the Cavaliers need all the help they can get. On the court, James may not get all that many touches – he’ll have to sneak them in between the twin suns of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden – but it’ll be worth it for the sheer energy of his first game back.
Cleveland is where LeBron began his career in 2003. It’s where he made his first finals. It’s the city that loathed him when he left and loved him when he returned. It’s the site of his greatest triumph and his greatest basketball (2018, as the man himself told it on the Mind the Gamepodcast.) So the team lacks a certain reliability and verve. But it’s the best story.
Likelihood: 25%
Miami Heat
The Heat have Bam Adebayo to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they traded away most of their other assets to get the Greek star. LeBron and Giannis would be an intriguing combination – there may not be enough three-point shooting there to power a fearsome offense, but they’d be a force in the paint, and Antetokounmpo’s dunks and drives could help James get some valuable rest. James spent just four seasons in Miami, but packed enough memories into that time to compete with his body of work anywhere else: four straight trips to the finals, two MVPs, two finals MVPs, his villain era and one oft-cited, poorly aged quote. Hey, going back to Miami is the only way to belatedly fulfill “not one, not two … not seven”.
Likelihood: 15%
Minnesota Timberwolves/San Antonio Spurs/Oklahoma City Thunder
If what James covets most isn’t money or fun but a ring, he won’t get what he wants on any of the above teams. These teams are genuine contenders, and James’s time on the Lakers – as well as his, oh, 23 years in the league – tell him exactly what that looks like: youth, generational stars, exceptional defense. James would be an instant upgrade on Julius Randle in Minnesota, further bolstering the offense alongside Anthony Edwards (imagine those alley-oops, in either configuration) and LaMelo Ball. He would be a sorely needed veteran on the Spurs, giving them an out in crunch time with touch shots off the glass or foul-drawing drives. Jordan and James never played each other in the NBA; imagine if James not only played alongside the next player with GOAT potential in Wemby but helped sharpen him.
And the Thunder? They probably have the least need for James out of any team in the league, but that’s exactly why he may feast there. With their endless bench of serviceable-to-very-good three-and-D players, James could play limited minutes with manageable intensity as the other starters carry the defensive burden. While James on the Cavs or Warriors is a lovely image, if anyone’s earned the right to chase a final ring on one of the best teams in the league, it’s him.
Likelihood: 5%
Memphis Grizzlies
What James said about Memphis in March was a masterstroke of misdirection disguising a secret and long-held love for the city. Also, he feels bad about how badly things went with Ja Morant.
Likelihood: LOL
Only the man himself knows what’s to come in the future. But if his choice is consistent with his on-court philosophy, though the team he picks may not be the most obvious or the most conducive to glory, it will be the correct one.
It's offiically the Luka Doncic (77) era for the Lakers, who learned LeBron James will be looking to play elsewhere next season. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The LeBron Era is over. The Lakers can start their Luka Era.
LeBron James informed the Lakers on Tuesday he will sign with another team this offseason, extending his career to an unprecedented 24th season, but taking his talents elsewhere. James is an unrestricted free agent and the early timing of his decision allows the Lakers to approach free agency, which officially began Tuesday afternoon, with an almost clean slate.
The Lakers have up to $51 million in salary cap space, among the most of any team in the league, depending on how they spend it. And they need every dollar to fill out a bare cupboard.
The Lakers have nine players under contract and only four who were in the regular rotation last year. Behind Luka Doncic, the Lakers took care of Austin Reaves by agreeing to a four-year, $185-million contract that will be officially signed toward the end of the offseason to help the Lakers preserve maximum cap flexibility.
Center Deandre Ayton opted into a $8.1 million player option. Forward Jake LaRavia, who played in all 82 regular-season games before struggling during the postseason, is back for the second season of a two-year deal.
Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, Adou Thiero are the only other players officially under contract with the Lakers and newly drafted first-round pick Cameron Carr soon will join.
Here’s a look at how the Lakers can approach this offseason without James:
What kind of team do the Lakers want to build?
When Doncic played for the Dallas Mavericks and led them to the 2024 NBA Finals, his two centers — Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford — were exceptional in their roles as lob threats, blocking shots and rolling to the rim. Those are the sort of players with whom Doncic has thrived. He also had wing players such as Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington and Tim Hardaway Jr., all of whom were athletic, three-point shooters and good defenders. Again, the sort of players with whom Doncic has thrived.
So, according to NBA executives not authorized to speak on the matter, the Lakers have to build that sort of team around Doncic and Reaves, a backcourt many see as one of the most dynamic in the league — at least offensively.
“You know with Bron, you know Bron can get you 50 wins,” a West Coast executive said. “Luka can still get you 50 wins, but you just know when Luka misses games, I got Bron and Reaves. It’s a little bit different now. If Luka misses a game, it’s just Austin Reaves now. It’s a little bit different.
“But they just lost an All-Star. So, you are not going to be able to replace him with an All-Star. You got to replace him with two good role players.”
Which players could be back?
Forward Rui Hachimura (28) and center Jaxson Hayes (11) force Houston's Kevin Durant to pass instead of shoot during a game last season. Hachimura and Hayes are both unrestricted free agents. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A midseason move to the bench appeared to threaten Rui Hachimura’s free agency this summer, but the forward’s hot postseason shooting could turn him into a hot free-agent option. Hachimura’s 51.6% (81 for 157) career three-point shooting in the postseason is the best in league history, and he made 33 of 58 shots from beyond the arc during the playoffs for the Lakers last season while averaging 17.5 points per postseason game. Now an unrestricted free agent, Hachimura could draw interest from teams including the San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets, according to league executives not allowed to discuss personnel matters publicly.
Luke Kennard’s potential return has already been dashed. The NBA’s leading three-point shooter who was traded midseason to the Lakers agreed to a two-year, $13-million deal with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
Guard Marcus Smart opted out of his contract, turning down $5.4 million to pursue a long-term deal after he reinvigorated his career with the Lakers. He turned into a trusted defensive stopper, timely three-point shooter and steady leader for the team.
Centers Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes are also unrestricted free agents. Playing mostly in a backup role, Hayes averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds on career-high 75.6% shooting last season and developed such a strong relationship with Doncic that the Cincinnati native became a naturalized Slovenian citizen to hopefully play with Doncic on the national team.
Which new players could the Lakers target?
The Lakers are shopping for a center, but the store isn’t stocked with options.
In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
The Lakers also have been linked to Mitchell Robinson, who is coming off an NBA championship with the New York Knicks, and Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili. The Georgian center declined a $2.8-million player option to become an unrestricted free agent. Mamukelashvili is coming off career highs in points (11.2), rebounds (4.9) and shooting (52.3%) while starting 13 games out of 80 appearances. The 26-year-old also shot 38.9% (115 for 296) from three-point range.
Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili looks to pass while being defended by Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill during a playoff game in April. Mamukelashvili is an unrestricted free agent. (David Dermer / Associated Press)
On the perimeter, the Lakers have been connected with Quentin Grimes and Ziaire Williams. Grimes scored 13.4 points with 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Philadelphia 76ers last season. Brooklyn declined a $6.25-million option on Williams, a 6-foot-9 Sierra Canyon alumnus who averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game last season.
What’s the difference between unrestricted and restricted free agents?
The Lakers have been linked to Utah center Walker Kessler and Detroit’s Jalen Duren, but both are restricted free agents, meaning any offer the Lakers present could be matched by each player’s current team. If a restricted free agent gets an offer sheet from a new team during the negotiating period from June 30 to July 6 during which players can discuss but not sign new deals, their original team has until 8:59 p.m. PDT on July 7 to match. During that moratorium period, the new team must maintain enough salary cap room for the offer sheet, presenting a potential risk for the Lakers if they flirt with restricted free agents because they could lose out on other potential free agents during that multi-day waiting period.
Duren, 22, is coming off the best regular season of his career, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and earning All-NBA third-team honors. But he did not live up to the billing during the postseason, averaging only 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds while the top-seeded Pistons were eliminated in the conference semifinals.
The 7-2 Kessler missed most of last season because of a shoulder injury. Two seasons ago, Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while leading the NBA with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game.
Denver guard Peyton Watson is another restricted free agent who was connected to the Lakers. The UCLA alumnus could be an ideal fit on the perimeter for a team desperate for defense, athleticism and shooting, but he struggled with injuries last season and could return to the Nuggets, where he won a championship in 2023.
What about Bronny?
Bronny James, driving against Warriors guard Pat Spencer, is playing under a guaranteed contract worth $2.2 million this season. It's his third season with the Lakers. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)
One day before his father ended his time in L.A., Bronny James’ contract became fully guaranteed, locking the third-year guard in for $2.2 million.
The younger James, who was drafted in the second round in 2024 to form the first father-son duo in NBA history, showed steady improvement during his second season. He even played important playoff minutes, helping fill in for the depleted backcourt during Doncic’s and Reaves’ injuries. James scored his first career playoff points, totaling 12 during eight postseason appearances last season, with seven assists. He was two-for-six shooting from three-point range.
While bouncing between the G League and the NBA, James worked with coaches on developing his shooting confidence, quick decision-making and defensive ability. He played in 42 regular-season games last season compared to just 27 during his rookie season. Coaches were impressed with his growth while playing under an intense spotlight.
“When we drafted Bronny, Bron and I had one conversation very early on that I was going to coach Bronny,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said during the postseason. “I was not going to coach LeBron’s son. … Bron was great, that’s what he wanted.”
There are some NBA trades that, if you had brought the idea up six months earlier, it would have gotten you laughed out of the room.
Trade ideas like Kawhi Leonard returning to Toronto. If someone had said that to you at your work Christmas party last year, you would have said "sure, buddy" as you slowly started to back away. Yet here we are. Kawhi Leonard is returning to Toronto in a blockbuster trade that sends an All-NBA wing back to the place he last won a ring.
Who were the winners and losers in the Leonard trade? Actually, I'm not sure there were any losers — not everyone is a winner, and there is some "meh," but trying to find a real loser was a stretch. Let's break it all down, and we'll start with a reminder of what this trade entails.
Toronto receives: Kawhi Leonard The LA Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, two second-rounder picks (2030 and 2033).
Winner: Kawhi Leonard
More than staying home in Southern California, what Kawhi Leonard really wanted was to get paid. The Los Angeles Clippers would not give the 35-year-old with a lengthy injury history the extension he wanted. Part of that was the Clippers were looking to pivot to a younger team, James Harden and Ivica Zubac were traded at the deadline. So if Leonard wanted to stay with the Clippers, he was going to do it on their terms. The sides were well apart.
Leonard went out and found someone who wanted to pay him. The Raptors and Leonard will work out a two-year contract extension, but at a number he likes a lot more than what the Clippers offered.
Toronto also is somewhere he can compete at a high level — if he stays healthy and everything goes right.
Winner*: Toronto Raptors
* = Leonard is healthy.
On paper, there's a lot to like about the Raptors' roll of the dice on Leonard.
Defensively, pairing Leonard and Scottie Barnes gives the Raptors two perimeter players who can match up with nearly anyone in the league. On offense, the Raptors struggled with consistent shot creation last season, especially in the halfcourt, which was particularly evident when they ran into the Cavaliers in the playoffs. Leonard fixes that. He is almost impossible to keep off his spots and never seems to miss once he gets there. He is a genuine three-level scorer. Last season, he averaged a career-best 27.9 points per game, shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc. As he draws defenders to him, shooting space and driving lanes open up for Barnes, RJ Barrett and everyone else. Leonard fits with what the Raptors need.
But there is the asterisk.
This only works if Kawhi Leonard is healthy, and that has been very hit-and-miss in recent years. He played 65 games last season, but in his seven seasons in Los Angeles, he reached that number twice. That is the big risk the Raptors are taking, that he will stay healthy and play, making everything else worth it.
If Leonard can't stay healthy, the Raptors' big swing misses, and they strike out as losers in the deal.
It's a risk, but one worth taking for a good but not great Raptors team that needs what Leonard can offer.
Beige Flag: LA Clippers
How I feel about the Clippers in this trade is how I felt about Memphis in the Ja Morant deal: It's not a great haul in return, but it was a move that needed to be made. It was time for the Clippers to move on from the Leonard/Paul George era.
The reason I almost made this a win for the Clippers is the draft pick haul. Two unprotected firsts are a very good return for a 35-year-old (although part of it was for taking on those contracts the Raptors wanted off their books). Those picks especially matter to a team that very well may lose some of their own future draft picks as part of the punishment in the Aspiration/cap circumvention investigation, whenever that lands (the Clippers deny any wrongdoing, but in league circles the sense is the investigators found something and Adam Silver will bring the hammer down, although on the team, not really Leonard).
On the court, Ingram, paired with Darius Garland, gives the team some shot creation and will make the Clippers respectable, even in the deep West.
(As a side note, I am not tagging the Clippers as losers in this because the Leonard/George era didn't result in a ring or even a trip to the Finals — you take that swing 10 times out of 10. Bringing in Leonard and George made a former laughing stock franchise relevant. The Clippers made good moves, it just did not work out.)
Winner: Sam Presti and the Thunder
Guess who controls the Clippers' first-round pick next year? You guessed it, the team that seems to own every pick, the OKC Thunder.
With a solid Clippers' roster in a deep West, there is a reasonable chance the Clippers are headed to the lottery, but not likely the bottom three — they have too much talent — and so Oklahoma City could well have an 8.1% chance of getting the No. 1 pick next year, the best odds any team can get under the new lottery system. You know, the system that is supposed to keep the rich from getting richer.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Steph and Ayesha Curry arrive at the 2022 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards at The Regency Ballroom on December 08, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Steph Curry has watched the NBA rearrange itself like furniture in someone else’s house. Meanwhile he didn’t move; he didn’t have to. While the whole league has been playing musical chairs at the superstar table, the guy with four rings has been right where you left him. Golden State. The Bay. His throne built from splash, from suffering, from seventeen years of institutional trust that almost nobody in professional basketball has ever matched. LeBron packed up Los Angeles. Kawhi circled back to Toronto. Giannis headed to Miami. LaMelo came west. Ja is now in Portland. Somewhere along the way the NBA woke up looking like somebody had shaken a snow globe. But Steph never changed his address.
Here’s the thing about watching someone stay put while everything moves around them: it can look passive until you understand what it costs. Patience through chaos with a mind to solve it is what Curry exhibits year after year, and it produces a different kind of player, and a different kind of legacy. Loyalty at this level isn’t sentimental. It’s sacrificing optionality when optionality is the most valuable currency in the sport. It means absorbing rebuilding years without manufacturing drama to speed up the timeline. It means watching Klay Thompson leave, watching Draymond Green keep his options open, and trusting the foundation anyway. That’s a foundation he helped build after all, something that translates off the court as well.
That’s why it’s pretty cool that Curry has been nominated as a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award. renamed in 2017 to honor Ali’s legacy of using his platform for principle. Steph and his wife Ayesha Curry have been building their own way to that since founding “Eat. Learn. Play.” in Oakland since 2019.
Steph Curry has been named a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, an incredibly special honor https://t.co/AKwTuc6RPM
We’re talking thirty-five million nutritious meals delivered to children and families facing food insecurity. Also, more than $20 million committed to literacy programs across Oakland public schools, including high-impact tutoring, teacher coaching, restocked libraries, and free book fairs at 47 elementary schools. Additionally, that’s over one million books placed directly into the hands of Oakland students. And before I forget, I gotta mention there’s also twenty-four schoolyards and six gyms physically transformed into safe spaces where kids can move, compete, and just be kids.
And the detail that separates “Eat. Learn. Play.” from the average celebrity foundation: Steph and Ayesha personally cover every operating expense. Every donated dollar goes directly to Oakland’s kids.
We’ve spent all summer talking about Steph as the fixed point while the NBA reshuffled itself around him. Turns out basketball was only part of the story. The same instinct that kept him anchored to one franchise also kept him anchored to one community. Oakland didn’t get the version of Steph Curry who was passing through. It got the version who decided this place was worth investing in long after the cameras stopped rolling.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons talks to the media after the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ chase for a big man is not limited to just Walker Kessler, but also the other top big man on the market, Jalen Duren.
After meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday, Duren is set for a second meeting with the team on Wednesday, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. During the first meeting, the Lakers reportedly told Duren they see him as a max-level player, which the Pistons clearly do not.
Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren had a productive meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with them again on Wednesday morning, league sources told The Athletic.
Duren was told by the Lakers in the meeting that they view him as a maximum-salary level player, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations. The 22-year-old received a similar message of strong interest from the Sacramento Kings, who also met with Duren on Tuesday and indicated that they will continue to explore sign-and-trade scenarios to land him.
The Pistons and Duren have been at odds during the offseason, which has led the big man to meet with other teams in search of an offer he finds fair.
However, as is the case with restricted free agency, the ball is in Detroit’s court, no matter what happens. And all reports leading up to free agency indicated that the Pistons had no interest in a sign-and-trade and would match any deal he signed.
The Detroit Pistons have offered what the franchise believes is the most lucrative contract possible for their All-Star restricted free agent Jalen Duren, are not interested in any sign and trade deals and will match any potential offer sheet he signs, sources @espn@andscape.
Inglewood, CA - April 15: Forward Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers fights for the ball against forward Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and forward Gui Santos, right, of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of a NBA play-in tournament basketball game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor again?! Whoaaa, eight years after he delivered the championship that shut Oracle Arena’s lights off forever, he’s headed back north for what could be the final chapter of his career.
It’s rather Shakespearean about the way his current chapter with the Warriors dynasty decided to end. Not with another Finals matchup or one last signature series, but with Draymond Green stealing the ball right out of his hands in the closing seconds of a Play-In game, sending him into the offseason and ultimately back to Toronto.
The Warriors have a strange habit of outlasting every villain in their story. Eventually, somehow, they get the last word. Kawhi Leonard was never supposed to be one of them.
The era of Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles has officially come to an end:
2020: Blew a 3–1 series lead 2021: Lost in the Western Conference Finals 2022: Missed the playoffs 2023: 1st Round exit 2024: 1st Round exit 2025: 1st Round exit 2026: Missed the playoffs
Go back to the 73-win season. San Antonio was the respectability test for the dynasty, the team that made everyone who doubted the Warriors sharpen their pencils and reconsider. Kawhi Leonard was already becoming something dangerous, a two-way freight train who moved with mechanical patience and struck with violence. Then there was that February showdown, the kind that felt more like a Western Conference Finals preview than a Tuesday night in the regular season. Steph Curry hit a stepback that blew the roof off Oracle and made you feel the weight of what Golden State was becoming in real time. You could feel both franchises circling each other, understanding exactly what the other represented. The Warriors were ascending. The Spurs were the last empire standing between them and permanent dynasty status.
The rivalry never got its full resolution on the court. The injury to Kawhi in the 2017 Western Conference Finals derailed the Spurs’ best chance at contesting the Warriors on a level playing field, and it denied us the chess match we deserved. Depending on who you ask and how you feel about the circumstances, that moment either leveled the dynasty’s path or exposed the dynasty’s luck. Either way, the conversation never got finished.
Kawhi came back for his revenge as a Toronto Raptor. And he delivered one of the coldest postseason performances in NBA history against these Warriors, who were already broken and bleeding through an injury crisis unraveling in real time. Game Six was in Oracle Arena aka the house that built the dynasty, the most intimidating building in basketball. And with the Warriors set to move to San Francisco the next season, this was the last dance for Oakland.
Alas, Kawhi and the Raptors walked in and turned the lights off forever. Kevin Durant’s Achilles and Klay Thompson’s ACL were afterthoughts as the Raptors celebrated in front of a devastated Dub Nation. The last image Golden State’s faithful had of Oracle wasn’t the Splash Bros high fiving and pouring champagne. Instead it was Kawhi Leonard’s stone face unbothered, watching their dream die. As Finals MVP he ended the Oracle era, the threepeat, and the Oakland chapter of the Warriors dynasty.
The rivarly between Kawhi and the Dubs continued across the Bay. Chase Center opened and on opening night, the Los Angeles Clippers arrived as a superteam with Kawhi Paul George, and the specific energy of an organization that believed its moment had finally arrived. They walked into that building and won by 19, cruising to the finish over a proud but mortally wounded Golden State squad. Afterwards Patrick Beverley told Curry that the next five years belonged to him. Insane hyperbole? Absolutely. But that’s the confidence Kawhi’s presence against the Warriors warranted. The Clippers genuinely believed they were coming for the throne with “The Klaw” as their instrument of conquest. He had already buried Oracle. Now he had christened Chase with a victory and planted a flag in the new era.
Fast forward seven years to this year in the springtime where, in a Play-In game in Los Angeles the Warriors had no business winning, Draymond Green put Kawhi in handcuffs. Leonard finished with 21 points on 17 shots, committed 5 turnovers, and left that game with his own postgame assessment as the most revealing verdict of all: that Draymond was a Hall of Fame defender and it was hard to even get shots up against him.
With 49 seconds left and the Warriors clinging to a three-point lead, Green stole the inbound pass intended for Leonard, immediately found Brandin Podziemski streaking to the basket for an and-1 that crippled the Clippers for good, then ripped Leonard’s dribble in the final moments to seal it. The Klaw, who had haunted this franchise across two uniforms and a decade of history, got his cookies taken in the most consequential game of the Clippers’ season, on his home floor, with everything on the line.
Draymond Green’s solitary confinement of Kawhi Leonard compilation, final 3 minutes: pic.twitter.com/tNabKVpLOX
Draymond Green says he had to live with the fear of being embarrassed by Kawhi Leonard the last 2 days coming into the game, but prides himself on his work and being prepared heading into a matchup like this.
When told Kawhi’s praise for him being an all-world defender, Draymond…
I’m loving the symmetry. Kawhi stole the final championship game ever played inside Oracle Arena. And then he won the first regular season game ever played inside Chase Center. And the final possession of his Clippers career ended with Draymond snatching the ball away from him.
Nearly a decade after Toronto borrowed him to end the Warriors’ first act, Golden State sent him back to Toronto having written the ending to his L.A. story.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 19: Zach Collins #12 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates making a three-point basket during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on December 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Power forward/center Zach Collins has agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract extension to stay with the Chicago Bulls through the 2027-28 season, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Collins’ agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, worked with the organization continuously over the last two days to keep his client off the free agency market and beat the July 1 deadline at midnight.
The 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft appeared in just 10 games with the Windy City organization in 2025-26, averaging 9.7 points per game on a 57.8 field goal percentage/42.9 three-point percentage/77/5 free throw percentage, plus 5.6 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game.
Collins had a season-ending toe surgery just after the NBA All-Star break in February of 2026. Unfortunately, countless different injuries and surgeries have derailed the trajectory of his career over and over again.
Across nine campaigns with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Bulls, Collins has suited up for only 388 of the 738 possible regular-season games.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Dean Wade is heading to the City of Brotherly Love.
The free agent forward has agreed to a four-year, $39 million deal with the 76ers on Tuesday night, according to ESPN.
Wade, 29, is leaving the Cavaliers, a team where he established himself as a critical defending and shooting piece in the frontcourt. He spent the first seven years of his career in Cleveland after going undrafted and signing a two-way contract with the team in 2019.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson goes up for a shot as Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) defends during the first quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Wade was the longest tenured Cavalier.
Until Tuesday, the Cavs and Wade had been in ongoing negotiations trying to work out a new deal before the start of free agency.
But by late Tuesday afternoon, it became clear that Wade would hit the free agency market, and now Philly scopped him up on the first day.
NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Philadelphia was expected to be one of several teams interested in acquiring Wade last week.
Wade’s defense made him an important piece of Cleveland’s rotation and allowed him to retain a consistent role there. His 6-foot-9 height and 6-foot-10 wingspan made it difficult for opposing guards and forwards to work around him.
Wade averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds alongside 1.5 assists per game during the 2025-26 season, shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from 3-point territory.
Dean Wade goes to the basket as Chet Holmgren defends in the first half of the Cavaliers’ blowout loss to the Thunder on Jan. 19, 2026, in Cleveland. AP Photo/David Dermer
Wade started in 14 of the Cavaliers 18 playoff games this past season, where they reached their first Eastern Conference finals in eight years before being swept by the Knicks.
Wade only put up 4.4 points in 22.6 minutes per game in the playoffs, but his defense on stars like Scottie Barnes and Cade Cunningham made him a valuable piece of the Cavs’ run.
His plus-5.0 net rating was the highest among all Cavs players throughout the playoffs.
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 5: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers run on to the court before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 5, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost defensive-first starting small forward Dean Wade in free agency. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that he will be joining former Cavs general manager Mike Gansey with the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $39 million deal.
Not being able to retain Wade’s services isn’t all that surprising on its own. The Cavs were the only team over the second apron last regular season and are making a concerted effort to get well under it this offseason so that they can reshape their roster. Considering the number of suitors it was reported Wade had, it was likely that one of them could offer more than the Cavs.
What is surprising is the amount Wade signed for. His new contract with Philadelphia has an average annual value of $9.75 million, and could be structured to pay less money the first year. That isn’t an outrageous amount or one that would significantly hinder the Cavs from getting under the second apron if they had matched it.
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The Cavs’ choice to presumably not match that amount would be curious if they don’t have other moves or possibilities lined up. The small and power forward positions are the groupings with the least amount of depth on the team. Wade was a stopgap at both positions and was by far the best perimeter point-of-attack defender on the team. Losing such a valuable defender is a tough blow on the night they lost defensive specialist Keon Ellis as well.
Cleveland was already in need of additional help at the three and four spots. Now, that is even more true, and they don’t necessarily have an easy path of finding a replacement. With how the salary cap works, just because the Cavs didn’t offer Wade that money doesn’t mean they can offer a different free agent that amount. Cleveland could have exceeded the salary cap to sign Wade because they had his Bird rights. They can’t do so with free agents coming from other teams.
There is a former Cavalier out there who could sure up the wing that would make everyone forget about the loss of Wade. But if they aren’t able to procure LeBron James’s services, they will have an uphill struggle to find both an additional wing and help at backup power forward.
Wade first signed with the Cavs on a two-way deal as an undrafted rookie during the 2019-2020 season. He progressively earned more minutes and cracked into the starting lineup for stretches of the last several seasons. Wade started 38 of his 59 games with the Cavs last regular season and 14 of the team’s 18 playoff games.
This past season, Wade averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on .439/.362/.711 shooting splits.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 19: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors walking off the court slaps hands with teammate Al Horford #20 against the Boston Celtics in the first half at Chase Center on February 19, 2026 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Western Conference is running a youth experiment, and the results are getting harder to ignore. Victor Wembanyama is already rewriting the defensive record books. Anthony Edwards is appointment television. Cooper Flagg just landed in Dallas. Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Şengün are all guys proving the best teams in the West are increasingly being built around players who weren’t legally allowed to drink four years ago.
And as rumors swirl Golden State is about to sign LeBron James, a man in his 40s, the Warriors just used the 11th pick on 23-year-old Yaxel Lendeborg, re-signed 30-year-old center Kristaps Porzingis, and brought back 40-year-old Al Horford.
Franchise stalwart Draymond Green went on record calling Lendeborg a great pick, and his reasoning was more interesting than the endorsement itself. He argued that a veteran-heavy roster needs players who can contribute immediately, and that Lendeborg’s age is exactly what makes him fit.
Draymond says to let rookies be rookies and stop putting pressure on Yaxel Lendeborg to become the Warriors’ savior immediately:
“Let me say something. Can we please stop putting this pressure on Yaxel, a rookie, to come in like he’s supposed to save the day? It seemed like… pic.twitter.com/2PMGs35eER
Young franchises get to be patient. Just like how the Spurs took their time with Wembanyama and the Thunder built their depth over years of painful losing. They could absorb growing pains because their timeline had room for them. The Warriors’ timeline doesn’t have that luxury, and they’ve structured their entire front office philosophy around that reality. Winning has a hidden cost, and Golden State paid it without reading the fine print. Every year they spent chasing championships was another year they couldn’t prioritize long-term development the way rebuilding franchises could. They were winning and the bill just took a while to arrive.
And when we talk about the Warriors’ current draft philosophy I feel we should name the moment it changed. James Wiseman had every physical trait that modern front offices chase in terms of length, athleticism, upside that scouts described in superlatives. The Warriors bet on potential and watched three years dissolve into a trade. Wiseman wasn’t just a miss. He was the last time (unless you count Jonathan Kuminga) Golden State tried to draft for the next decade instead of the next postseason. Since then their approach has moved steadily toward floor over ceiling, toward the known quantity over the projection. Whether that’s wisdom or overcorrection is still genuinely unclear, but the philosophical pivot is undeniable.
“There’s basically never been a player this good at his age.”
Asked Mike Dunleavy what ultimately led to the Warriors drafting Yaxel Lendeborg pic.twitter.com/mq2NwXz4fI
Then came Porzingis. An established veteran whose immediate value lies in what he can do next April, not what he might become three Aprils from now. And don’t forget about Al Horford re-signing for two more years to become just the 13th player in NBA history to reach a 20th season. The Warriors aren’t keeping him around out of sentimentality. Stack those two next to Jimmy Butler now Lendeborg, and run it through the same filter: does this increase Steph Curry’s chances before the window closes?
Two years from now, we’ll know whether Golden State spotted an inefficiency everyone else ignored or simply spent its last draft capital chasing Steph Curry’s final championship window. Either way, this much is already clear: while the rest of the Western Conference is raising young draft pieces into bonafide stars, the Warriors have decided to focus on experience.
Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, June 30 for forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap.
The move puts an end to a real pursuit of an NBA title for the near future, as the Clippers opt for a younger roster while building assets.
Leonard originally came to Los Angeles in July 2019 along with Paul George, in what was a homecoming of sorts, with both being Southern California natives. The Oklahoma City Thunder had traded George and a first-round pick to L.A. for a haul that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two swaps.
The duo did lead the Clippers to their first Western Conference finals appearance in 2021. Still, the pairing did not pan out, while the Thunder managed to construct a championship-winning roster following the trade, using one of those draft picks to select Jalen Williams.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, Leonard and his uncle/advisor Dennis Robertson were allegedly involved in a “no-show” agreement with a company, Aspiration, to funnel extra compensation to the player as part of a salary cap circumvention.
Here’s where things stand for the Clippers, who are looking to reconstruct their roster this season:
What does the Clippers’ starting lineup look like currently?
The Clippers' starting lineup would consist of Darius Garland and rookie Keaton Wagler making up the backcourt.
Ingram is no stranger to Los Angeles, having originally been drafted by the Lakers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft. He was once viewed as the untouchable asset that the Lakers were going to build a future around.
Clippers offseason moves
While Lopez did have his team option picked up by the Clippers, the team declined the options for Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nicolas Batum before the start of free agency.
The Clippers also fully guaranteed guard Kris Dunn’s $5.68 million contract for the 2026-27 NBA season.
Jordan Miller received a qualifying offer, and Kobe Sanders agreed to a new four-year, $11.2 million deal to return.
Will Bennedict Mathurin return to Clippers?
Bennedict Mathurin would serve as the Clippers’ sixth man after the team extended a qualifying offer to him earlier this week, according to Law Murray of The Athletic. Mathurin averaged 17.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 54 games last season.
Who will Clippers target next in free agency?
The Clippers still have roster spots to fill. The team will have several options available, including re-signing forward John Collins. He tallied 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season in 69 games played.
Forward DeMar DeRozan could be considered a veteran target the team will reconsider. He averaged 18.4 points and 4.1 assists in 77 games played for the Sacramento Kings.
If center Mitchell Robinson doesn't return to the New York Knicks, he could be another interesting option for L.A. to consider. Robinson averaged 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 60 games played.
Raptors roster following Kawhi Leonard trade
The Toronto Raptors had to trade a couple key pieces to execute a deal for Kawhi Leonard, but they kept enough of their roster intact to be considered one of the top Eastern Conference contenders during the 2026-27 season.
Here's a breakdown of what the roster looks like with Leonard on the team heading into the start of the NBA's free agency period:
DETROIT, MI - MAY 13: (EDITORS NOTE: A special camera filter fractal was used for this image) Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 13, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Mike Gansey’s first free agency move running the Sixers, he’s bringing in a familiar face in Dean Wade.
The 6-foot-9 forward, who was initially signed by Gansey and the Cavaliers’ front office as an undrafted free agent in 2019, has spent his entire seven-year NBA career in Cleveland. He now comes to Philadelphia on four-year, $39 million deal, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Wade’s calling card is his perimeter defense. With a 7-foot wingspan, a 228-pound frame and good lateral quickness, he’s able to guard multiple positions at a high level. We heard a lot of talk about the Sixers needing to find an identity this offseason. With a trio of Wade, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe handling the tough perimeter assignments, and Tyrese Maxey digging for steals while Joel Embiid protects the rim, forming a defensive identity feels possible.
Nothing about his raw numbers will impress you, but Wade is far from a zero on the offensive end. He can make open looks. He’s shot 36.7% from three for his career, though you’d maybe like to see an uptick in his volume. He’s not a shot creator by any means, but he’s a good connector and is comfortable putting the ball on the floor when needed. He’s a solid rebounder, but that could still remain an area of weakness for the Sixers overall.
With that said, Gansey and the front office still have avenues to improve. The Sixers are likely signing Wade using a portion of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which comes in at roughly $15 million for 2026-27. They’ll now be hard capped at the first apron, but it also means they’ll have some of the NTMLE left over (likely around $6 million) for another player above the minimum. They also could access the bi-annual exception ($5.5 million).
Free agency is just beginning, so there should be plenty of business remaining. The Sixers could still use more depth across the board. Make sure to follow our tracker and we’ll update you as much as we can.
Luke Kennard during his Lakers debut against the Golden State Warriors in February. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
In need of three-point shooting, the Lakers lost the league’s best sharpshooter on the first day of free agency.
Guard Luke Kennard has agreed to a two-year, $13-million deal with the Phoenix Suns, The Times confirmed Tuesday.
Kennard was an unrestricted free agent after he was traded to the Lakers last February from the Atlanta Hawks. His arrival coincided with a dramatic offensive uptick for the Lakers, who went from 34.9% shooting from three in games before Kennard and 37.7% in games after. Kennard was on a one-year, $11-million contract last season, his ninth year in the NBA.
The former Duke star averaged nine points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Lakers while shooting 44.8% from three-point range. He showed his influence beyond just shooting when he took on more ballhandling duties late in the season to fill in during injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. In a starting role during the last six games of the regular season, Kennard averaged 6.4 assists.
The Lakers already lost LeBron James on the first day of free agency after the 22-time All-Star informed the team he intended to sign somewhere else for his NBA-record 24th season. Kennard could have provided a critical floor-spacing piece around Doncic, who thrives when surrounded by lob-catching centers, athletic wings and knockdown shooters.
