Category: NBA

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

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

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

The Lakers have a new hurdle in their pursuit of a starting center for next year’s team.

Last year’s starter, Deandre Ayton, has reportedly picked up his player option, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton is opting into his $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/YCEkd3wgmj

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026

This move is far from a shock. It was reported earlier that Ayton was expected to pick up his player option. Now the Lakers have the option to keep Ayton or move him to bring in another player.

As a starter last year, he had his fair share of ups and downs. In many clutch-time games, he was benched for Jaxson Hayes. However, the good moments certainly outweighed the bad.

He averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds and started in all 72 games he played. One of his best performances in the regular season came in a win over the Spurs. In that contest, Ayton had 22 points, 10 rebounds and outplayed Victor Wembanyama.

In the opening round of the playoffs, Ayton delivered. He shut down Alperen Şengün and helped the Lakers eliminate the Rockets despite playing the entire series without Luka Dončić.

His play declined in the second round against the Thunder. Ayton averaged just 7.3 points and his minutes dipped to 24.6 per game.

Considering how openly the Lakers have been looking for a top center, it seems unlikely that Ayton will remain around. Perhaps he could be a backup option on the team, but he almost certainly won’t be the starter next season and, given his contract, wouldn’t be too hard to move in a trade.

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

The Knicks have already paraded through the Canyon of Heroes following their NBA title win, but now the streets of Manhattan will get even more Knicks flavor.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of transportation have announced that temporary street signs will be going up in Manhattan on Monday to honor each member of the Knicks 2025-26 championship squad.

“This championship is bigger than basketball. It represents what our city is capable of when the odds are stacked against us. For as long as we live, every New Yorker will remember the feeling of our city coming together — not because of tragedy or adversity, but out of joy and happiness,” saidMayor Mamdani. “This championship belongs to every fan who packed our parks and plazas and every neighbor who high-fived a stranger after another impossible comeback. These street signs are a tribute to the players who delivered the championship generations of fans waited their whole lives to see and the city that stood behind them every step of the way. Long after the confetti is gone, New Yorkers will be able to walk these streets and remember the team that brought our city so much joy. Knicks in five.”

The signs, which will stay in place for four weeks, will run along Sixth and Seventh Avenues.

Here are the exact locations:

·        Sixth Avenue and West Houston Street – Jordan Clarkson No. 00
·        Sixth Avenue and Bleeker Street – Dillon Jones No. 1
·        Sixth Avenue and Minetta Lane – Miles “Deuce” McBride No. 2
·        Sixth Avenue and West 3 Street – Josh Hart No.3
·        Sixth Avenue and West 4 Street – Pacôme Dadiet No. 4
·        Sixth Avenue and Washington Place – Jose Alvarado No. 5
·        Sixth Avenue and West 8 Street – OG Anunoby No. 8
·        Sixth Avenue and West 9 Street – Kevin McCullar Jr. No. 9
·        Seventh Avenue South and West 11 Street – Jalen BrunsonNo. 11
·        Seventh Avenue and West 13 Street – Tyler KolekNo. 13
·        Seventh Avenue and West 20 Street – Jeremy SochanNo. 20
·        Seventh Avenue and West 23 Street – Mitchell RobinsonNo. 23
·        Seventh Avenue and West 25 Street – Mikal Bridges No. 25
·        Seventh Avenue and West 32 Street – Karl-Anthony Towns No.32
·        Sixth Avenue and West 44 Street – Landry Shamet No. 44
·        Seventh Avenue and West 50 Street – Trey Jemison III No. 50
·        Seventh Avenue and West 51 Street – Mohamed Diawara No. 51
·        Seventh Avenue and West 55 Street – Ariel Hukporti No.55

The Nets are retaining two key players after initially declining their club options, bringing back center Day'Ron Sharpe and forward Josh Minott on new deals, per multiple reports.

Sharpe's deal will be for two years and $20 million, while Minott will sign a two-year contract for $9 million, per Shams Charania of ESPN. 

Sharpe, 24, averaged a career-high 18.7 minutes per game this past season, scoring 8.7 points and grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game.

Minott, 23, also averaged a career-high in minutes during the 2025-26 campaign, playing 17.0 minutes per contest as he split the year between the Celtics and Nets.

After being acquired by Brooklyn in February, Minott averaged 10.8 points per game. 

Malik Beasley’s NBA career is over.

Nine-year NBA veteran Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges for gambling related to a sports betting scheme, such as point shaving and prop bets, his attorney Steve Haney tells ESPN. The government is coordinating a voluntary surrender of Beasley this week.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026

The one-time Detroit Piston set a franchise-record 319 made threes in the 2024-2025 season and was looking at a large payday. He ranks seventh in most threes made in any season in NBA history. Detroit apparently rescinded an offer of three years and $42 million once they were notified of an investigation.

Beasley, along with NBA veteran Ed Davis, were teammates during their time together on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis allegedly collaborated with Beasley four separate times while Malik was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Beasley apparently lost millions of dollars while gambling and Davis loaned him money, and this betting scheme was a way for Beasley to work off his debts.

It’s a terribly sad situation all around, but any hopes of Beasley returning to Detroit can finally be put to rest. For comparison, Jontay Porter, former NBA player who pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy to commit wire fraud, is expected to face three-to-four years in prison with a maximum sentence of 20 years. I would imagine Beasley is looking at a similar sentence, if not harsher.

Go Stones.

In the latest chapter of the Kawhi Leonard trade saga, the Clippers’ forward has supposedly knocked the San Antonio Spurs out of the equation, and as per Shams Charania, the only contender for a non Los Angeles trade would be the Toronto Raptors.

Previously, Jake Fischer had reported that this was a two-horse race between the Spurs and the Raptors if a trade were to occur, but now, it looks like Kawhi’s preferences have changed circumstances. Charania clarified that the Clippers had, at this point, not offered Kawhi a “long term extension”, which the Raptors have indicated interest in doing. This would make all the difference in trade talks, as the forward, with one year left on his contract, would likely be a part of a sign and trade with the Raptors.

The situation is developing quickly, as over the weekend, an initial round of negotiations occurred between the Raptors and the Clippers as the two teams attempted to work out a mutually beneficial agreement. Charania noted that the Clippers are attempting to inject more youth into their team, part of what prompts this potential departure from the Leonard era in Los Angeles. The Clippers’ bevy of big names have departed over recent years, with Russell Westbrook, Paul George, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac all being traded by, or independently departing from, the Clippers, leaving Leonard as the final star left from before the 2025-26 season.

While the Raptors have indicated an interest in forming a trade package around Ingram, the Clippers’ are apparently interested in a much more valuable piece to the Raptors. Tomer Azarly for ClutchPoints reported that the Clippers would instead be interested in Collin Murray-Boyles in a trade with Toronto, seeking not only the All-Rookie talent, but potentially draft capital as part of compensation for parting with the two-time Finals MVP.

With the Clippers seemingly less than enthused at the prospect of trading for Brandon Ingram, it remains to be seen what a potential trade package for Leonard would look like, which would allow both parties to be satisfied. The Raptors giving up Murray-Boyles would be a blow to their roster construction, with Jakob Poeltl’s injury history and the team’s general lack of frontcourt depth. The Raptors have not offered the sophomore up, but it remains to be seen what players and picks could be bundled together in an enticing trade package.

With the draft in the rearview mirror, NBA teams now shift their focus to free agency as team can begin negotiating with free agents this week and contracts can become official on July 6. As many know by now, the Sixers options in free agency are limited thanks to all the salary they have tied up in Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. Bryan Toporek did a good job explaining the finances behind what’s next for the Sixers and the decisions they’ll have to make involving their own pending free agents. 

The two most important decisions the Sixers will have to make before exploring external options are what to do with Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre. If you’re ready to move on from Grimes after a drastic decline in production in 2025-26, no one can blame you. But the decision on what to do with Oubre is more complicated. Let’s dive in.

Why to bring Oubre back

Oubre’s first season in Philadelphia was 2023-24, which lined up with when Nick Nurse arrived. In three seasons as a Sixer, Oubre has appeared in 178 regular season games and started 150 of them. He’s also started all 17 playoff games he’s appeared in spread out over the 2024 and 2026 postseasons. We all know about the availability concerns surrounding Embiid and George, but Oubre has been the opposite during the last three seasons. 

Furthermore, when the Sixers do have everyone available, Oubre has shown he can round out the starting lineup well. In Game 6 against Boston in this past spring’s first round, Oubre played 38 minutes. He scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, added nine rebounds, while also contributing two blocks and two steals and was a +23 in a comfortable 106-93 victory for the Sixers. The optimistic view on the Sixers during the 2026 playoffs was that their starting lineup was one of, if not the best starting five in the NBA. Oubre was a part of that starting lineup and as he prepares for his age 31 season, could certainly help in a similar way for a few more years. Nick Nurse would know what he’s getting, and it’d be a pretty functional starter.

Why not to bring Oubre back

Financially, things get a bit complicated if Oubre returns. Bryan noted that re-signing Oubre and/or Grimes would put the Sixers past the first apron and that if they opt for the taxpayer mid-level exception, they would be hard-capped at the second apron. The timing of what’s out there for Oubre and what the Sixers want to do with the rest of their offseason might not work out. Should interest in Oubre be robust, Mike Gansey and the rest of the Sixers front office are going to have to decide if bringing back Oubre is worth narrowing their options for the remainder of the offseason. Therefore, a world in which Oubre sits around and doesn’t get what he’s looking for and has to take more of a team-friendly deal in August or September is probably better for the Sixers. But if Oubre ends up being the one holding the better cards, Philly might have to fold and move on if it has a few alternatives that it would be barred from pursuing if Oubre were to return.

Once you start plugging in actual scenarios of what the roster looks like without Oubre in 2026-27, the less sense it makes to bring him back. Players like John Collins or Rui Hachimura as non-taxpayer MLE options are a couple years younger than Oubre and therefore probably more intriguing. Even in the scenario in which Oubre waits around for a deal that doesn’t come and has to take less than what he desired, a strong argument can be made that the Sixers should be giving those kinds of cheaper contracts to younger players with more upside than Oubre. If you want Gansey and company to have more flexibility in a time in which they don’t have much to begin with, saying goodbye to Oubre makes the most sense.

Conclusion

The entire decision on what to do with Oubre can be traced back to the most common discussion about the current state of the Sixers. The franchise is trying to juggle two different timelines. As much as many fans would like to wash their hands of the current timeline that involves George and Embiid, it’s unlikely that Philadelphia will be able to move either contract this summer. Therefore, you might as well try to compete with the two veterans while they’re on the roster and being paid so handsomely. Retaining Oubre helps the Sixers do that. That’s not to say they couldn’t be competitive in other ways next season without Oubre, but there’s something to be said for the continuity that Oubre would provide the starting lineup.

However, the more important timeline for the Sixers is the one that starts when Embiid and George are gone. It’s imperative that the franchise shows Maxey especially that it can build a contending team for the late 2020s and early 2030s to ensure that Maxey will want to spend the duration of his prime in Philadelphia. Even though it’s still 2026, proponents of prioritizing the future would tell you that every decision the Sixers make in this offseason and next offseason should be about building the best team they can for 2028 and beyond. There’s really no scenario in which Oubre fits that timeline so what sense does it make to retain him to begin with? If there are a few other players that can be brought in that are younger than Oubre and come even a minimal amount of upside to be a part of this team’s long-term future, those are players that should be prioritized over Oubre.

So, with all that said, which side of the fence do you land on?

The Warriors are ready to lean into their identity as the old guys giving it one last ride.

It was the identity of their team last season, but that consisted of Al Horford, Jimmy Butler and, to some degree, Kristaps Porzingis. However, with an offseason to really have at it, Golden State is trying to just go futher in that direction by luring in two big-name former Lakers.

On Sunday, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports laid out the Warriors’ hopes of trading for Anthony Davis to help lure LeBron James to San Francisco for an All-Uncs superteam.

The Warriors are attempting to trade for Wizards big Anthony Davis and then sign Lakers free agent forward LeBron James, according to multiple league sources.

A trade for Davis would have to include Jimmy Butler, who is on an expiring $57 million contract while recovering from a torn ACL. The Warriors would also have to include draft capital — they have two future firsts and four first-round swaps to work with in any deal.

Sources say the Warriors hope adding Davis would help lure LeBron from Los Angeles to the Bay Area once free agency officially opens on June 30. The pitch would be simple: reunite with AD, team up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, play for Steve Kerr, and chase one more championship with a roster of legends.

If it felt a little far-fetched, then it became a little more real on Monday when Draymond Green opted out of his contract to give the team flexibility to make the moves for AD and LeBron.

The opt-out comes days after the Warriors said they expect Green to pick up the $27.7M option. Instead Green delivers Golden State time and space to pursue Davis with the Wizards and convince James to join Stephen Curry, Green and his old Lakers championship teammate in the Bay. https://t.co/uNMngqPSw2

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026

There are few things the Warriors have loved more in recent years than chasing stars. And there are few things they’ve more consistently done in that time frame than strike out on them.

From Giannis Antetokounmpo to Pascal Siakam to OG Anunoby, the Warriors always have big visions of what they want to do but rarely does it happen. That being said, this one isn’t quite the same.

They aren’t chasing stars in their prime, which could make it more possible. That being said, this all hinges on the Wizards being open to trading Davis for an injured Jimmy Butler who won’t play until late in the season at the earliest.

Considering Washington just gave a lot of money to Trae Young, it doesn’t seem like they’re interested in tanking anymore. It seems unlikely that the Wizards would trade for Davis, then never have him actually suit up. Is a trade package of future Warriors picks really that appealing to them if they’re interested in winning now?

And all that comes before needing to recruit LeBron to the Bay. Perhaps they’ve been given signals that doing all this will be enough to sign him, but it still seems like a gamble. And that’s to say nothing of if the Warriors would actually be contenders with a quartet of LeBron, AD, Green and Steph Curry.

For now, it’s a bit of a pipe dream, but it certainly seems like one the Warriors are chasing.

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

Nate Ament was selected at No. 13 overall last Tuesday, becoming the highest draft pick of the Rick Barnes era at Tennessee. The 6-10 wing is a former 5-star prospect who spent just one season in Knoxville. Ament helped the Volunteers to a third-straight Elite Eight appearance.

Ament is the highest Tennessee draft pick since 2002.

The Milwaukee Bucks selected Ament as a part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, which saw the star player shipped to the Miami Heat. Ament will now help the Bucks fill those vacated minutes at the same position.

“I mean, I really wouldn’t say it’s much extra pressure,” Ament said when asked about being a part of the big trade. “Obviously we’re stepping in — luckily I’m not going at it alone. I have got another top-10 draft pick, Brayden Burries. He’s a tremendous player, and I’m excited to get to learn with him.

“Yeah, they are big shoes to fill over there in Milwaukee, and I think that it’s just a tremendous opportunity for me and Brayden. If anything, I see it as an opportunity and not pressure.”

Ament averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Tennessee last season. Those numbers really ticked up in SEC play as the freshman got more and more comfortable asserting himself into the offense. By the end of the year, Ament was the go-to guy for Rick Barnes offensively. He made his money slashing to the rim and posting in the mid-range, drawing several fouls per game and cashing in at the free throw line. Ament also got more comfortable shooting late in the season.

“I’m just super excited,” Ament said. “Again, like I said, I’m super grateful for the opportunity. To be able to make my family proud, to share that moment with my family means the world to me. So super excited and ready to get to work.”

Ament will need to continue developing that shooting stroke for more consistency, while also getting stronger to maximize those finishes through contact at the rim. He was one of the more polarizing prospects in the entire draft, thanks to his slow start through November and December. By the end of the season though, you saw the potential shine through.

With Giannis no longer in Milwaukee, Ament should have plenty of minutes to work with in his rookie season.

The Knicks capped the 2025-26 NBA season with an improbable run to an NBA title. With that over, the focus turns to the title defense and what could be another wild offseason in the NBA.

Here are a few bold predictions for the 2026 offseason...

Mitchell Robinson re-signs with the Knicks

Let’s get crazy off the bat. The Knicks appear to have a mandate to keep out of the second apron, and the reported offers out there for Robinson go well beyond that room before New York gets to try to retain anybody else. 

All signs point to Robinson being a Laker or Net this time next week. But neither offers him the chance to compete or the camaraderie the Knicks do, and maybe that can outweigh pure dollars and cents.

Maybe this is a pipe dream, but Robinson’s a career Knick and seems to enjoy it. If the team can work the numbers a bit, perhaps offload other salary, it’s possible a reunion isn’t as far-fetched as expected.  

Kyrie Irving gets traded to the Pistons

The Mavericks have a new general manager and new head coach who said they want to see Irving and the to-be sophomore sensation Cooper Flagg share the court. But we’ve heard these declarations around the league before, and if Dallas has a chance to reorient its team on Flagg’s timeline, they sure will consider it.

Enter the Pistons, who have been stacking picks and prospects through their rise up the Eastern Conference standings. They can use a big talent upgrade to help make the leap to contender, and with few remaining options on the board that fit their needs, a trade for Irving is a logical fit. 

Something in the realm of Ron Holland II,Duncan Robinson and a host of picks could get it done. Detroit gets its outside punch and Dallas stocks up for the rebuild. 

Jaylen Brown gets traded to Utah

Brown’s departure from Boston seems likely after they reportedly included him in their Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit and continued to shop him in the days to follow. One destination that hasn’t claimed as many headlines as it should is Utah.

The Jazz have flirted with competence as they’ve drafted their way to solid talent, but are clearly looking to start really winning basketball games after acquiring JarenJackson Jr. via trade last season. Throwing him or Lauri Markannen along with some salary filler and picks in a deal with Boston would catapult them much closer to that goal by picking up a Finals MVP to steer their young squad. 

Meanwhile, the Celtics get to change up their style with a dynamic big and perhaps a prospect they scrape off the Jazz, too. And Brown gets to lead his own team in the Wild West. 

Knicks trade Pacome Dadiet or Miles McBride 

New York is facing the potential departure of Robinson and can’t go into the second apron to fill that hole or upgrade elsewhere. While many expect the team to largely stand pat following a successful championship run, the cap dynamics make it extremely difficult.

Dadiet is an intriguing prospect, but didn’t contribute much at the NBA level over two seasons and could help facilitate a deal or clear some cap room. McBride had a mixed playoff run but still has one of the most attractive contracts in the league at a position the Knicks are deep in, opening the door to flip him for a new option.

If they do make a trade, and that scenario shouldn’t be written off, these two are likely candidates to go, holding value to other teams without upsetting the core rotation or prospect pool too harshly. Knicks fans may not love the idea, but it may be necessary and bear surprising fruit. 

LeBron James rejoins the Cavaliers for one last run

The slow play between the Lakers and LeBron to start this offseason, along with this likely being close to, if not his final season, suggests a break-up between the two is waiting to happen. While it’s not the story right now, where James decides to play next season could swing the trajectory of the league. 

He’d complete potential superteams by joining his former team the Miami Heat, or his good friend Stephen Curry as a Golden State Warrior. But a re-return home to Cleveland, in order to finish his career as a Cavalier and potentially win them another chip, can’t be ignored. 

They might be the most desperate team for LeBron’s services, offering him a storybook ending and a clean basketball fit. Those factors may be enough to land him back in the wine and gold. 

In a move that is widely believed to signal the Golden State Warriors’ intent to chase after a couple of big fish names, Draymond Green has officially declined his $27.7 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is declining his $27.7 million player option to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. This move gives the Warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade to form a Big 4. pic.twitter.com/jBVRe1YZ1B

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026

Green declining his player option allows the Warriors to free up cap space for flexibility purposes. Namely, this allows them to chase LeBron James and Anthony Davis – who both happen to be represented by the same agency (Klutch) and the same agent (Rich Paul) as Green.

The Warriors seem intent on creating a big four consisting of Steph Curry, James, Davis, and Green. This move signals that, at the very least, such intent is a distinct possibility.

Jaylen Brown is 29 years old, in the middle of his prime, with three years left on his contract, coming off a season in which he finished sixth in MVP voting, and is just two seasons removed from winning Finals MVP. So why hasn’t Brad Stevens been able to trade the star forward yet?

Once the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga ended with the former MVP taking his talents to South Beach, I expected Jaylen Brown to be traded shortly after, or at a minimum, a bidding war to commence. It has been worryingly quiet on the bidding war front. 

The Celtics front office was not willing to go all in on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Reportedly, the Celtics were not willing to include more than Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks in order to acquire Antetokounmpo. The unwillingness to go all in would lead me to believe that Brad Stevens is, or was, confident in the contingency plans should the Celtics not land the Bucks big man.

However, in the passing days, the market for Jaylen Brown does not appear to have materialized. Either the NBA does not view Jaylen Brown as the perennial All-Star that he is, or the market is trying to squeeze Brad Stevens. In what reached a ridiculous head on Saturday evening, an old friend, ESPN’s Bobby Marks, dumped gasoline on the Jaylen Brown discourse. 

On Sirius XM, Marks said: “There are mixed feelings about him. Jaylen Brown’s analytics are not good…I had an analytics guy tell me, ‘We view him as the seventh best player on the team.'”

To be fair and provide context, he went on to say that he views Jaylen Brown as a top-10 player in the NBA.

The claim from the “analytics guy” is obviously outlandish, but it also reeks of something someone might want out there if they were trying to suppress the market for Jaylen Brown.

These comments led Jaylen Brown defending himself.

It feels as though the situation is heading in a bad direction for the Boston Celtics. 

As we attempt to sift through the muck of internet drama surrounding the Jaylen Brown trade sweepstakes, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, “It has been stressed to The Stein Line in recent days that neither the Hornets nor the Rockets, despite speculation to the contrary, are actively pursuing Jaylen Brown.” Again, to me, this reads as the market trying to bully the Celtics into a corner. Jaylen Brown would be a great fit in Houston. I don’t buy the reported lack of interest. 

This raises the question of whether the Celtics are actually in a desperate position. Do they need to trade Jaylen Brown? At the end of the day, Jaylen Brown is being paid $57 million next season to play basketball for the Boston Celtics. While Brown may feel slighted by the Celtics for being thrown into trade discussions for Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s hard to make the case that the Celtics have been anything great for Brown’s career. With the Celtics, Jaylen has become an NBA champion and Finals MVP, been selected to multiple All-NBA teams, and signed over $360 million in contracts with the iconic franchise. Brown could do a lot worse and would likely find himself in a worse situation wherever he ends up.

A return to the Celtics should not be not out of the question. 

Whether or not Celtics fans think the team needs to or does not need to trade Jaylen Brown, the reality is that Brad Stevens is trying to trade the All-Star wing. Since Brad Stevens has taken over the Celtics front office, any reporting on Celtics transactions has been hard to come by. Over the last week, the Celtics’ business has been out there which likely means the Celtics want their business out there.

In Brad’s most recent press conference after the first night of the NBA Draft, Brad was asked about whether or not Jaylen would be traded or return to the Celtics. Brad could have said anything, and what he didn’t say was loud. He did not say that Jaylen Brown would be back on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are trying to trade Brown. We don’t know exactly why. It could be fall out from being included in the Giannis negotiations, Brown could have asked for a trade because he’s ready to move on, or the Celtics front office may have decided it will be easier to build a championship contender without Brown’s supermax contract on the cap sheet. All we can do is look at the front office’s actions. Which indicate they want to trade the 2024 Finals MVP. 

If we assume the Celtics feel as though it’s time to move on from Brown, the potential return could make or break this era of Celtics basketball. At the present moment, I think the return is going to disappoint Celtics fans. The only team that is reported to have a significant interest right now is the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers have some intriguing pieces; Donovan Clingan would fill the need at the big man spot, Toumani Camara could replace some of what Brown provided the Celtics, and the Blazers own a slew of valuable draft picks.

However, reports indicate the Blazers would be unwilling to part with either of Deni Avdija or Donovan Clingan, but that their draft picks would be on the table. At first glance, this might make many Celtics fans vomit in their mouths. However, I may be able to sell you on what a draft pick-centric package could look like. Firstly, the Blazers should not make a Brown trade if they have to give up Clingan or Avdija; that’s just shuffling the deck chairs and leaves them without a big man. A potential package would be the defensive stopper Toumani Camara, former third overall pick Scoot Henderson, and a young semi-disappointing wing on a somewhat bloated contract, Shaedon Sharpe, plus two unprotected Milwaukee Bucks picks (2028 & 2030), and the Celtics get their own 2029 pick back from the Blazers, allowing them more flexibility for the moves that would follow a Brown deal.

I think most Celtics fans would view this as a disappointing return, but I believe the Celtics could help Henderson unlock his potential, giving the Celtics a much-needed boost in backcourt athleticism. Camara would be a great pairing with Jayson Tatum, and Sharpe could be used in trades, along with the newly acquired draft capital, to upgrade the roster. Whether that is a Trey Murphy package or an unknown package, it provides the Celtics with the flexibility to go out and make more moves.

Something to keep in mind is the reality of trading Brown’s $57 million contract. It’s hard for teams to patch that amount of salary without gutting their roster, and there’s no point in making the trade if you have to do that to acquire the five-time All-Star.  That being said, I think this return is workable. The Celtics would essentially run it back from last season with Jayson Tatum in the Jaylen Brown spot, with a supercharged version of last season’s roster. The Celtics add a big man in free agency, hopefully flip the assets acquired in the Jaylen trade for an impact player, and experience internal development from their young players like Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr, and Baylor Scheierman. The floor to me for next season would be 55 wins and a first round exit. I would project them to exceed those expectations. And now the roster is flush with tradeable contracts and high value picks for the front office to take big game hunting in the 2026-2027 offseason.

If there is a better trade out there, Brad Stevens and the front office will make it. I’m just skeptical that deal is out there. 

A week ago, I felt a lot better about what Jaylen Brown would return on the open market. It’s easy to say that if the right offer isn’t there, then the Celtics can simply bring back the All-NBA forward. That’s not typically how the NBA works. On the other hand, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum being on the same team for nine years, through all the ups and downs, is already atypical. We might look back and laugh at the ridiculousness of the past couple of weeks when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown find themselves in their sixth conference finals appearance come next May. However, I view a split between the Celtics and Brown as imminent, and the return to be one that still allows the team to position themselves for another title run, even if it initially disappoints a large portion of the fan base. 

The Atlanta Hawks have already made a series of moves this offseason, and they’ve all been key to ensuring the team stays competitive. One of the first moves Onsi Saleh made was re-signing CJ McCollum to a one-year deal, which gives the Hawks a trusted veteran at the guard position who helped them have a strong second half of the season.

Later that day, Saleh made another value move to improve along the margins, acquiring Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for two second-round picks. From a cap sheet perspective, it was a perfect move for the Hawks, as they received a serviceable wing on a good contract, and only had to give up second-round picks.

On the court, this isn’t a move that turns them into contenders overnight, but Wiggins plays the game the right way and has helped a team win a championship in the past few years. Wiggins was one of the many contributors who came off the bench for the Thunder, and he averaged 9.4 points per game last season. A lot of things that he does are what the Hawks value, and his fit on the team should be seamless. The first thing that stands out when watching Wiggins is his shooting.

For most of Wiggins’ career, he’s been a reliable 3-point shooter, and it helped the Thunder when their second unit came in. Wiggins shot 36% from the perimeter last season, and he knocked most of them down in catch-and-shoot situations. When you have a player on your team like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who attracts so much attention on the court, somebody is going to be open. When it was Wiggins, it almost felt like a guarantee the shot was going in.

If the pass wasn’t directly from Gilgeous-Alexander, it was from the extra pass, which is why the Thunder have been so successful over the years. For Wiggins, he didn’t have to create most of his shots from the perimeter, but he showed the skills to do so if he needed to.

If Wiggins didn’t have a shot, he was able to attack on closeouts and finish at the rim. At 6’5 with a 6’10 wingspan, he found a way to finish over taller defenders when making his way to the rim, which led him to be efficient in those spots at well. He’s not the most athletic that’s going to jump out the gym, but he has just enough to make plays in transition or when attacking the lane.

Not only did Wiggins get most of his playing time because he could shoot the ball, but he was a solid defender as well. He can defend multiple positions and even played the four at times for the Thunder when they went small. Wiggins isn’t considered an all-world defender, but he gets the job done, whether that’s at the point of attack, playing helpside or rotating. He should fit right in with what Quin Snyder wants from the group on that side of the ball.

Playing on a team like the Thunder, having a good IQ is key, and it’s safe to say that Wiggins is a good processor of the game. He makes the right decisions on both sides of the ball, and he’s the connector that will help the Hawks’ second unit. It honestly wouldn’t be a surprise if he closed games at times next season if the Hawks need more offense in certain situations.

This was another good move for Saleh, and it will be interesting to see if he has more up his sleeve as the offseason continues.

The Detroit Pistons feel incomplete, but they are running out of avenues to improve. That’s not to say something can’t get done or that Trajan Langdon hasn’t worked hard trying to swing a deal that takes his team to the next level. Still, as we sit here a day before the beginning of free agency, the Pistons have swapped one of the league’s fiercest interior defenders in Isaiah Stewart for one of the league’s more dangerous 3-point threats in Isaiah Joe.

The team’s No. 1 priority this offseason was to add shooting and spacing to a lineup that found both in short supply through two series of the playoffs. But what if that is all there is?

The Pistons have reportedly been working hard on an extension for Jalen Duren and are interested in retaining veteran Tobias Harris. If both of those come to pass, that would mean a potential return of last year’s entire starting lineup, give or take, swapping Duncan Robinson for Joe if that moves you.

Is that going to take Detroit beyond the first-round struggle and second-round exit they experienced last season? Will they be able to run with the defending champion New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, or healthier versions of the Celtics and Pacers? Of a Giannis-led Miami Heat or an upstart Charlotte Hornets? And that is just the East.

Detroit still has avenues to improve. They could operate easily as an under-the-cap team if they saw a big free agent worth chasing. They could operate on an over-the-cap team if they were able to find a trade that was worth their while.

They’ve already reportedly been putting out feelers for “big game.” There were credible reports about interest in Austin Reaves (given a max by the Lakers), Kawhi Leonard (rebuffed by Leonard), Coby White (re-signed by Charlotte), and Tyler Herro (so far, he is pegged to land in Milwaukee).

The team’s biggest need is a power forward, or perhaps a big switchable forward who could play either spot. Detroit could easily slot Ausar Thompson into a power forward role, but they love to use Thompson as a point-of-attack and help defender on the perimeter, which would force any other starting forward to be big enough to hold up down low.

Who has the girth and the talent to potentially replace or displace Tobias Harris in the starting lineup? The crop of free agents isn’t super inspiring. Rui Hachimura is available. He is a 42% 3-point shooter the past three seasons, and made a career-high from deep last season with the Lakers. John Collins is another reliable enough perimeter threat who can play up and down the lineup depending on how funky you want your defense to be. Dean Wade is the boring man’s free agent signing that you’d probably never regret.

If you’re still thinking about the trade route, of names not already mentioned would be led by Trey Murphy III, Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, PJ Washington, and Nikola Jovic.

This has always felt like the last offseason they could make a huge move without blowing up their core. Cade is already on a max, Duren is about to get a huge payday, and this season or next, Ausar Thompson’s will likely be even bigger than Duren’s.

The time is now, the war chest feels full enough. Langdon seems prudent, but he also seems to know he’s been building to this moment. We will see if he is able to take advantage.