Category: NBA

After eight years in Los Angeles, LeBron James will don a different jersey for the 2026-27 season.

First reported by Shams Charania of ESPN, LeBron has informed the Lakers he will be playing for a different team next season, as told to him by Klutch Sports CEO and LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul.

BREAKING: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/zzVk6xUVF1

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026

A source close to James told ESPN, “it was time to move on.” https://t.co/IR04QhEPZ5

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 30, 2026

The Lakers expressed to James that they wanted him back, but the NBA's all-time leading scorer decides to move on elsewhere. https://t.co/hGhK4gGd42

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026

Whether a sign of respect or not, LeBron has never informed the team he’s leaving that he will not be playing for them the next season. It affords the Lakers the chance to head into the offseason fully aware they need to replace him on the roster.

LeBron’s 2025-26 season was unlike any other for him or the league. No player has seen the court in their 23rd season until LeBron stepped on the floor this year. However, that debut was delayed for the first time in his career after a bout with sciatica. Once he took the court, he eventually embraced a role he had never had in his career, either as the third option.

Still, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game, absurd numbers for any player in the 40s, even if they were down from previous seasons. Once the playoffs rolled around, he was forced back into the first fiddle role and showed he still had something left in the tank, leading the Lakers to a win over the Rockets in the first round.

The offseason, though, did bring uncertainty about what was to come for LeBron. Entering as an unrestricted free agent, there were questions about whether the Lakers could move into the Luka Dončić era with LeBron on the roster.

There were certainly teams interested in LeBron, at least according to his agent Rich Paul. Many saw the Warriors as a realistic option. The idea of a Cavs reunion never amounted to much more than a theory.

Golden State became a very notable option for LeBron immediately preceding the start of free agency. The franchise was looking to pair LeBron with Anthony Davis and form the NBA’s version of the Expendables. It was enough of a threat to the Lakers that it prompted them to have a conversation with LeBron after the two sides had largely not spoken since the start of free agency.

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

LeBron James’ time in Tinseltown has come to an end. 

In a stunning move that has shocked the NBA world, James has informed the Lakers that he will finish out his NBA career elsewhere and that the Lakers are free to move on without him this offseason, according to his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.

James’ decision as an unrestricted free agent ends his longest consecutive tenure with a franchise, with his eight straight seasons with the Lakers outlasting the first seven seasons of his NBA career he spent with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Rumors are swirling that James could join the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. The belief that James could become the King in the North came as Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option with the Warriors to become a free agent.

If Green re-signs with the Warriors for less money, they’d have the financial flexibility to offer James the $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception.

Meanwhile, fans of the Lakers and LeBron were freaking out at the news online — splitting into two clearly divided camps.

“Honestly, this was best for both sides,” one user posted on X. “I know there will be fans saying how his production will be missed this season and etc., but in life there is always a time and place for everything.” 

One camp of Lakers fans is rejoicing, hailing the decision by the oldest player in the NBA to take his talents elsewhere in a move described as “absolute cinema.” 

“Thank the basketball gods. Best news ever for us Lakers fans!” a fan said. 

---

More coverage on LeBron James

• LeBron James leaving Lakers in NBA free agency as Golden State Warriors rumors swirl
• Warriors master offseason plan includes LeBron James and Anthony Davis
• LeBron James’ silence leaves Lakers in the lurch ahead of NBA free agency
• Lakers need LeBron James, and he needs them. It’s time to get deal done
• Jimmy Butler’s agent pushes back on Warriors trade rumors amid Anthony Davis buzz

---

While the other camp was clearly hurt by the news.

“Ummm im going back to sleep! its not even the first and our season is already OVER,” one wrote on X, referring to the Lakers star potentially leaving the team.

“Whatever jersey LeBron wears next, the entire basketball world will be watching,” another fan said on X.

The 41-year-old James averaged 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals since joining the Lakers as a free agent in 2018.

James had a Hall-of-Fame worthy run with the Lakers: eight-time All-Star; seven-time All-NBA honoree, NBA champion, and NBA Finals MVP in 2020 and NBA Cup champion in 2023.

He also surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time regular-season scoring record (38,387) on Feb. 7, 2023, now sitting at 43,440 regular-season points scored after an unprecedented 23rd NBA season.

James ended his second tenure with the Cavaliers and signed a four-year, $154 million deal with the Lakers during the 2018 offseason. 

The first season didn’t go as hoped, with James suffering a groin injury on Dec. 25, 20218 that sidelined him for 17 straight games, marking the first major injury of his career, with the Lakers missing the 2018-19 season.

After an offseason retooling, which included trading for star big man Anthony Davis and replacing Luke Walton with Frank Vogel as the head coach, James and the Lakers bounced back in 2019-20, winning the 2020 NBA title.

The relationship between James and the Lakers has had its rifts throughout the decade. But at each pivotal turn, the two sides came back to each other.

But not this time. 

The Lakers wanted to bring James back, but it wasn’t their No. 1 priority as they looked to build the ideal roster around superstar Luka Doncic, who supplanted James as the face of the franchise after he was traded to Los Angeles in February 2025.

And James, after helping restore the Lakers to relevancy, will close out his career elsewhere.

“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in an X post.

“We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers — including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold.”

“We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off,” Buss added. “He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.”

James responded to the post, keeping it short and sweet. “No, THANK YOU!” He wrote.

“Truly a honor to wear the [purple and gold] while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint.”

Luka Dončić paid homage to the star on Instagram, sharing a photo of he and James hugging with the caption, “An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames.”

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Welcome to the start of a new NBA calendar year as the free agency period officially starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 30.

Players, agents and front office decision-makers all have their phones on alert waiting for calls and text messages about what the future holds. Die-hard fans are refreshing their social media feeds every few minutes for the latest update.

There's already been major deals that have broken the internet.

The Milwaukee Bucks sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in a package deal. The Memphis Grizzlies moved on from Ja Morant, trading him to the Portland Trail Blazers.

It's pandemonium. Trades are happening. Players will be signing new deals. Some have opted out and chose to test the market.

Here's where our NBA experts think the biggest names in free agency will end up.

LeBron James

• Scooby Axson: If the NBA wants to turn into the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers, then James should sign with Golden State. The most logical answer would be for him to stay put in L.A. and ride out the rest of his career there. Stranger things have happened, but with the league's most dynamic scorer by his side and complementary role players, there is no reason why a title run can't be realistic.
• Mark Giannotto: The Lakers will be able to pay LeBron James more than any other team and he can continue playing with his son there. The flirtation with the Golden State Warriors feels more like posturing for a better deal from the Lakers at this point.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Lakers. At this stage of his career, it’s tough to see James wearing an entirely new jersey, as much as the Warriors noise does make sense. I also don’t know that a Golden State team with James is any closer to competing for a title than the Lakers are. James’ family is in Los Angeles. I get the sense he wants to make it work there, even if he needs to take less.
• Marcus D. Smith: I know there are a bunch of legitimate talks about LeBron leaving the Lakers, maybe for the Warriors. James playing alongside Stephen Curry feels like something that you'd force on NBA 2K. We had a glimpse of their tandem in the 2024 Olympics. It was magical but I think that's where the dream ends. LeBron spent the last eight years in Los Angeles. At age 41, I couldn't imagine him leaving.

Jalen Duren

• Scooby Axson: Duren would be going into NBA purgatory if he wants to sign with Sacramento. His value is the most in Detroit, so both sides need to stop acting like babies and get a deal done. Unless the Pistons are so worried about Duren's no-show in the playoffs that they wouldn't dare give him max dollars for which he is eligible to receive.
• Mark Giannotto: Though Duren (and more likely, his agent) are sending signals he and the Pistons are at an impasse and he's taking meetings with other teams, Detroit has leverage since Duren is a restricted free agent. This may be a drawn-out process and it could get uncomfortable given Duren's lackluster postseason performance, but the guess here is the negotiation ends with Duren resigning with the Pistons.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Lakers. They’ve needed a defensive-minded center for some time, and are also trying to impress Luka Dončić, who will be watching what L.A. does to remain competitive. Duren is an excellent fit, and won’t be relied upon to create his own shot.
• Marcus D. Smith: Multiple reports are saying Jalen Duren wants to be a Sacramento King. It's rare that guys actually want to play for the Kings, let alone be in Sacramento. Maybe Duren sees something brewing in California's capital, or he knows that they'll pay him. The deal could likely include Domantas Sabonis, who the Kings have been looking to sell on, so there's a possibility that Duren lands in the 916.

James Harden

• Scooby Axson: Harden's best bet is to stay in Cleveland, as his championship window is closing every year that he gets bounced from the playoffs. His $42.3 million player option will be his last big payday, so he can opt out and come back to the team on a "hometown discount" and try for another run at a ring.
• Mark Giannotto: Harden is going to stay with the Cavaliers on a more team-friendly deal.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Cavaliers. He may have declined his player option, but the move here was always going to be for the two sides to work toward a multi-year deal. There’s little doubt around this one.
• Marcus D. Smith: James Harden will be back in Cleveland. He declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season, but it's likely that he'll still be back in Cleveland next season. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Cavs and Harden are working through a multi-year deal. Harden expressed desire to play in Cleveland back in May, after being eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals by the New York Knicks.

Norman Powell

• Scooby Axson: Miami makes the most sense, but we are talking about the NBA where logic rarely rules the day. Powell is 33 years old and coming off leading the Heat in scoring. That won't happen again no matter where he goes, and a team with cap space like the Washington Wizards or Los Angeles Clippers would fulfill Powell's monetary demands.
• Mark Giannotto: The Chicago Bulls are one of the few NBA teams with legitimate salary cap space to spend this offseason and they lack a starting shooting guard. Pencil in Powell to the Bulls.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Bulls. Chicago has cap space it needs to use, and Powell could provide a solid, veteran presence (and much-needed shooting) to a roster that lacks both.
• Marcus D. Smith: Norman Powell is likely on his way out of Miami since they can't pay him $25 to 30 million, but the Chicago Bulls can. I'd say he follows the money, plus he's a natural fit for what the Bulls lack: veteran leadership and shooting.

Tobias Harris

• Scooby Axson: Any team that is looking for a solid veteran presence would be in line for Harris' service. The Celtics aren't changing their philosophy, so they will continue to jack up 3-pointers at every turn, and Harris, with a green light to shoot when he gets in the game, would fit right in.
• Mark Giannotto: Where Harris ends up will likely depend on whether he's wants to take the midlevel exception to remain with the Pistons or play for a contender. Here's guessing he's willing to take a discount to play with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, who could use another floor spacer.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Celtics. Assuming Jaylen Brown is moved, Boston will need a forward who can shoot and score. Harris has had spurts of excellent play and stretches when he disappears. Boston would give him the green light to shoot, but he’d need to deliver consistency for coach Joe Mazzulla.
• Marcus D. Smith: Tobias Harris is a solid veteran, role player who can score in timely fashion. I feel like he'd stay on an Eastern Conference team for sure. I'm stuck between the Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics. Since Harris has always played meaningful basketball, I'd lean towards the Celtics.

Jonathan Kuminga

• Scooby Axson: This is a tough one, as Kuminga can be an enigma at times. He wants to get paid like the star that he isn't, and can certainly act that way when things go awry. A team like the Brooklyn Nets, where expectations are nil, would be a good fit, as they have a mix of proven scorers on the roster that would go nicely with his skill set.
• Mark Giannotto: The Clippers want to get younger and move Kawhi Leonard. Kuminga could slot into Leonard's role immediately, but they won't have enough money to get it done without trading Leonard.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Kings. They’re going in on something of a rebuild, and Kuminga is looking for a larger role — and a significant payday. Sacramento will need to get creative to make it work with the cap, but this lets Kuminga come in and be a first or second option.
• Marcus D. Smith: I'd say somewhere like Denver, but Jonathan Kuminga wants to be a star or a key contributor wherever he goes, not just a role player. Kuminga could have a chance to prove himself on the Los Angeles Clippers, if they deal Kawhi Leonard.

Rui Hachimura

• Scooby Axson: If Hachimura wants to win, he will stay with the Lakers. If he is looking for a big payday other than what Los Angeles can offer him, he will sign with the first team that offers him a lucrative contract. His consistent play is too much for Los Angeles to give up on, so he stays where he is at for now.
• Mark Giannotto: This might be Hachimura's best chance at a payday the rest of his NBA career and staying with the Lakers would likely mean taking a little less to help their salary cap situation. I bet he takes the money and the Brooklyn Nets have plenty to spend.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Nets. Brooklyn has several young players who are still finding their way, and a veteran scorer who can space the floor is a huge need.
• Marcus D. Smith: Rui Hachimura was a huge part of the Lakers' playoff success. LA can make the money work and that includes re-signing LeBron James. He's expressed desire to stay in LA since he was traded from the Washington Wizards. I expect Hachimura to return to the Lakers.

Anfernee Simons

• Scooby Axson: Simons will be on the floor for one reason and one reason only: to put the ball in the hoop. Other times, it's basically five-on-four, so Washington can use another outside threat, and if the Heat come up with some money, he would be a nice addition down in South Beach.
• Mark Giannotto: The Miami Heat need more shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo with Tyler Herro gone. Simons would be a nice fit in South Beach.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Heat. Miami desperately needs shooting and can mask Simons’ defensive weaknesses. He’s also from Central Florida and played high school hoops in Bradenton, so a homecoming would be a seamless fit.
• Marcus D. Smith: Anfernee Simons to the Heat is ideal. He's dynamic on offense as a scorer and can provide a spark. He has the capability to provide spacing, which will be much needed for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Mitchell Robinson

• Scooby Axson: The Knicks play in an arena that underwent a $1 billion facelift, have an owner with unlimited funds, and don't want to pay Robinson, who was a key cog in their championship run. So Robinson needs to make his way to the left coast and join either the Lakers or the Clippers. The Lakers would be the most beneficial.
• Mark Giannotto: If Robinson wants a starting role, he'll go to the Nets. If he wants to chase another title, he'll go to the Lakers. I bet he stays in New York and makes the move to Brooklyn.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Nets. They have the cap space, they’re close enough to his current home, and they would give him a starter’s role. And since the Knicks are avoiding the second apron, it’s almost certain Robinson will play elsewhere.
• Marcus D. Smith: Mitchell Robinson to the Nets has a ring to it. After winning a chip with the Knicks, you're practically forever royalty in New York. It makes sense for Robinson to play the game he loves, in a city he loves, even if its not exactly the same team that he developed that love with.

Peyton Watson

• Scooby Axson: Not sure why Denver wouldn't match any deal that comes Watson's way, and if they don't, the Chicago Bulls should be waiting there with open arms. A sign-and-trade makes the most sense here, as it will satisfy needs on both sides.
• Mark Giannotto: The Nuggets should match whatever deal Watson is offered and move other players to make it work. His value as a 3-and-D wing blossomed this past season.
• Lorenzo Reyes: Spurs. This feels like such a great fit for both. Watson is a defensive player whom San Antonio coaches would love. His improvement on offense also allows him help the Spurs with their shot creation.
• Marcus D. Smith: Peyton Watson has improved offensively, but it's his defensive capabilities that should really intrigue teams. The Lakers have needed more two-way wings, they get that in Watson. Watson would be a nice fit after seemingly losing Marcus Smart. Watson to the Lakers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA free agency predictions: Experts pick landing spots for top players

Late last week, we got the news that former North Carolina men’s basketball player Coby White had agreed to a new deal with the Charlotte Hornets, who he had been acquired by in a trade last season. On Monday, we got more news that another Tar Heel had come to an agreement on a new contract. Yesterday, Day’Ron Sharpe reportedly agreed to re-up with the Brooklyn Nets for two years and $20 million, staying with the only NBA team he’s played for to this point.

Sharpe played at UNC from 2020-21. In his lone season in Chapel Hill, he averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. Those equated to some pretty impressive 19.8 and 15.8 per 40 minute numbers, leading to Sharpe being named an All-ACC Freshman that season. That and his obvious potential led him to get some pro love, leading to him declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft.

The Nets selected him with the 29th pick in that year’s draft and Sharpe has been a regular for Brooklyn since. For his career, he’s averaged 7.0 points and 5.9 rebounds as a bench player for the Nets. In recent years, as Brooklyn has begun a rebuild, he’s become even more of a regular for them. He put up career best totals pretty much across the board his past season, going for 8.7 points (on over 60% field goal shooting) and 6.7 rebounds.

In all likelihood, Sharpe will not get to be on a contending team over the two years of this deal, unless he and some others take some massive leaps. The Nets went 20-62 last year, and have traded away almost anyone on their roster who is any good, including Cam Johnson, who was sent to the Denver Nuggets before this past season. However, this contract will almost certainly give him a bigger role than he would have on a currently contending team. Having that bigger role could put him at a much more advantageous position when it comes to the contract he gets after this one, whether it be with the Nets or elsewhere. Sharpe would need to continue improving for that to be the case, but he’ll certainly get the opportunity to try.

As a fan of the NBA championship-winning team across town, I can’t personally say that I wish the Nets any success as a team. However, I certainly wish the best for Sharpe for this contract and any potential future ones.

The NBA Draft is over. Mike Gansey and the new-look Sixers’ front office did well in selecting Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. 22nd overall.

There isn’t much rest for the weary as teams can begin speaking to free agents this week. On Monday, the team picked up their options on Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry, while not picking up Trendon Watford’s. While the Sixers filled a hole on their roster by getting a backup lead ball-handler in Philon, the team has plenty of others.

“You look at our roster, we need help at every position, one through five,” Gansey said following the first round of the draft. “Obviously, we have the Big 4, but we need guys outside of them.”

As we all saw, the Sixers’ top-heavy roster was a big part of their undoing in the postseason. Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George and Joel Embiid expended so much energy in the 3-1 comeback against the Celtics, they had nothing left — and got little help — when they got swept by the eventual champion Knicks.

One of the most obvious places they could look to upgrade is the four position. With how well George handled his wing assignments during the playoffs and the landscape of the position in free agency, it might make more sense to target a starting-caliber four than a wing. While Barlow gave the Sixers good minutes at the position last season, they could use an upgrade.

Over the last week or so, Tony Jones of The Athletic has continually brought up an interesting name: John Collins. Would that be possible? How would it look? Is it worth it? Let’s dive in.

Collins is entering his 10th NBA season, yet he’s still just 28 years old. He’s never been an All-Star, but he’s played in 541 games, starting 466 of them. He also took the floor for 29 playoff games with the Hawks (you might remember a few of those). After six years in Atlanta, he was traded to Utah in a cost-cutting move in 2023. He spent two seasons with the Jazz before going to the Clippers in the deal that sent Norman Powell to the Heat.

For his career, Collins has averaged 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game on 54.6/36.9/78.9 shooting splits. At a minimum, he’s proven to be a starting-caliber four for almost a decade. His skillset is ideal in many ways for the Sixers. Collins will bring athleticism, rebounding, shooting and weakside rim protection.

He’s a highlight-reel dunk waiting to happen and would be an excellent pick-and-roll partner for Maxey, Edgecombe and Philon. He’s long been one of the better play finishers in the NBA and looked plenty spry this past season in Los Angeles. He’s a good cutter and has plenty of experience alongside high-usage players. Collins will also run the floor, which should make for exciting transition opportunities with the Sixers’ young guards.

His ability on the offensive glass (2.7 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes) and to sneak out to the corners for threes makes him an ideal option next to Joel Embiid. We all know of the issues Embiid has had with rebounding the last few seasons. Collins will help on the defensive glass as well (7.0 per 36 minutes), a sore spot for the Sixers, especially in the postseason. Other than one down season in Atlanta, Collins has typically been an above-average shooter from deep. He’s hit 39.1% of his triples over the last three seasons on decent volume (4.3 attempts per game).

At 6-foot-9 with a near 7-foot wingspan, Collins could even give Nick Nurse some minutes at the five depending on the matchup. It’s not a look you’d want to go to every night, but Collins’ physical profile does give Nurse a little more optionality with his lineups.

The on-court fit makes sense, but what about the financials?

It’s hard to know how Collins’ market will shake out. The deal he was previously signed to under the old CBA is unlikely to be available to him this time around. With the Sixers’ current cap sheet, they could theoretically sign Collins using the whole non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($15 million). Because the team is so top-heavy, they wouldn’t have space to do much else — which could mean Oubre and Quentin Grimes will be moving on. They’d also potentially have access to the bi-annual exception ($5.5 million), which could net them one player above the minimum. The rest of the roster would have to be filled out by vet minimums.

So, you’re looking at a starting five of Maxey, Edgecombe, George, Collins and Embiid. On paper, that’s one of the better starting groups in the NBA. On paper. The health of Embiid and George will determine how good that starting unit actually is.

The bench would be flawed but interesting.

As far as high-profile names go, the free agency market isn’t very ripe at center and the wing, but there are a few intriguing names the team could look to fill in the last few roster spots. Maybe you can throw the bi-annual exception at someone like Kenrich Williams and give a big like Nick Richards or Marvin Bagley III a minimum. Or flip that scenario and use the BAE on a big (someone like Jock Landale) and take a flyer on a minimum wing.

Hell, it’s not inconceivable for the Sixers to make the aforementioned moves while still having a little room to re-sign Oubre. He’d be coming back on a discount, and it would put the team right up against the first apron, but it would make for a fairly competitive roster in the East. Looking at all the reports this offseason, Grimes’ name has come up on more than one occasion, but there hasn’t been much regarding Oubre’s market.

So, would Collins be worth it? I’d vote yes — if the Sixers have the ability to follow a similar blueprint to what I laid out. If you can line up Collins’ contract to expire by the time Embiid and George are gone, all the better (for what it’s worth, the longest deal he can sign is four years at the NTMLE). Even if Collins gets a three- or four-year deal, it would be pretty easy to move a $15-million expiring contract when that time comes.

With this plan, you’re giving it a shot with this current group, while not using any premium future assets. It’s the best of both worlds and perhaps the best you can do while operating on two timelines.

It’s June 30. It’s my birthday (I’m getting old).

But I know when it’s my birthday, it’s time to chat about NBA FREE AGENCY! Teams can start negotiating today!

Who do you think the Wizards will sign?

And … Could Anthony Davis be traded away?

Chat below!

The Knicks are kicking off their championship repeat campaign by re-signing guards Jose Alvarado and Landry Shametto team-friendly contracts. Alvarado declined his $4.5 million player option to ink a three-year, $14 million contract, while Shamet agreed on a four-year, $24 million contract.

Comparatively, these are excellent deals for New York. 

Collin Gillespie is signing for $12 million a year and Marcus Smart is declining his $5.4 million option, while Alvarado was open to taking less than most exceptions offer. Shamet-esque shooters like Kevin Huerter and Julian Champagnie agreed to deals worth $9 million and $15 million a season this offseason, while he received a fraction of those amounts. 

This was thanks to the goodwill the team earned on this magical championship run, the chemistry and loyalty that strengthened during it, and the endorsements and attraction New York offers like no other. This is no small feat for the Knicks, securing their backcourt depth as they grapple with staying below the second apron while trying to compete yet again. 

And compete they do when these two are on the court. Both played major roles in the regular season and even bigger ones come playoff time.

Shamet returned on the veteran’s minimum after essentially spending a rehab year with the Knicks a season ago, nearly getting cut during training camp. But he was a feisty defender and knockdown shooter, close with Mikal Bridges, and wanted to prove he could earn a spot with a team for the long haul.

That he did, going off for 36 points in an NBA Cup game with Jalen Brunson on the mend, finishing the year with 9.3 points per game on 39.2 percent shooting from the field. He had another injury and was in and out of the rotation, even riding the pine as the postseason got into swing.

But that changed in the second and third rounds. He was a big boost off the bench vs. Philadelphia, then hit three of the most pivotal threes of his career in Game 1 against Cleveland, when New York came back from 22 down in the fourth quarter to win. 

Shamet carried that over into a couple of double-digit performances to start the Finals up 2-0. Now he’ll be a mainstay for years to come.

The Knicks, desperately needing additional ball handling, traded a couple second round picks and salary filler for Alvarado at the midseason deadline. The diminutive but big-hearted point guard was renowned for his competitive fire on a flailing Pelicans team, but the Knicks gave him a chance to compete for something real on his home turf.

That lit a fire under him, as he scored 12 points and came away with two steals in his debut win against Boston. Two games later he had a 26-point outburst on eight threes.

Alvarado’s playing time also fluctuated though, but in a testament to his professionalism never wavered. His number got called down 2-1 to the Hawks to help alleviate Brunson’s burden and provide some electricity off the bench, and that he did, scoring 12 in Game 5.

His contributions didn’t jump out on the box score as the Knicks ran roughshod over the East. But then came the NBA Finals, where Alvarado was consistently undeterred by perhaps the league’s best defense led by its best defensive player. 

The highlight was playing a major role in the Knicks’ 29-point comeback in Game 4, including scoring all eight of his points in the fourth quarter. His spinning layup and gutsy three in the final minutes blew the ceiling off Madison Square Garden in arguably the team’s biggest moment in recent franchise history. 

Now, Brunson and the Knicks have their complementary guard rotation locked for the foreseeable future, and they couldn’t be better positioned. These guys fit, ball out in the biggest moments, and love playing in New York.

The NBA's free agency period is nearly here. Beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 30, teams can officially begin negotiating and agree to terms with players from other teams that are free agents.

But that might not be where most of the excitement resides this offseason. It's the trade front that should be most active. Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant and Julius Randle are among the players that have already been dealt in the days leading into the NBA draft and free agency. Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Herro and Sacramento Kings All-Star Domantas Sabonis are all on the trading block this week.

Only a few teams enter free agency with legitimate salary cap space to use. LeBron James remains the most prominent free agent, with a looming decision potentially between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.

USA TODAY Sports is tracking all of the latest buzz and news as NBA free agency gets underway. Stay tuned here throughout Tuesday, June 30 for frequent updates on new transactions and everything else that's happening as the NBA offseason begins in full:

LeBron James, Lakers appear headed for a split

There's a new development on the LeBron James free agency front. James will continue his NBA career in 2026-27, but he has informed the Los Angeles Lakers they can move on without him because he plans to play elsewhere, according to ESPN.

James has been linked to the Golden State Warriors, particularly after Draymond Green opted out of his contract to give the team more flexibility in its pursuit of the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Did Jaylen Brown's Instagram confirm he wants a trade?

Jaylen Brown has grown frustrated with how the situation is unfolding with the Celtics this offseason, according to a new report from The Boston Globe, but he still hasn't spoken directly about his feelings towards a potential trade away from Boston. Brown might have tipped his hand on Instagram in the past 24 hours, though.

The Celtics star reportedly liked a comment under one of his posts that read: "Man as a person who can’t stand the Celtics I hope they do right by him by trading him to a city who respects him."

Brown remains on the trading block, according to the most recent reports, with the Denver Nuggets mentioned as a prominent potential landing spot. The Boston Globe wrote that Brown could still return to the Celtics next season, though "some uncomfortable conversations would likely need to happen first."

Pistons push back on Jalen Duren trade reports

The Detroit Pistons aren't ready to just get rid of Jalen Duren because contract negotiations on his rookie extension reportedly aren't going well. The team does not intend to trade the 22-year-old restricted free agent, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reported on Monday night.

Duren has been linked to meetings with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers when NBA free agency begins later today. But the Pistons can match any contract Duren is offered by another team and they're eligible to give him a supermax extension after the 6-foot-10 center earned all-NBA third team honors this past season.

That, though, is what's issues in coming to an agreement. Duren's poor postseason performance has complicated the evaluation of his long-term value and how much money can be committed to him under the league's current salary cap structure. Detroit nonetheless remains resolute about keeping Duren, despite recent signs of friction in the relationship.

Warriors to ramp up LeBron James free agency pursuit

The Golden State Warriors plan to aggressively pursue LeBron James today, according to multiplereports, with the intention of trying to convince the Lakers star to accept the $15 million midlevel exception to join Steph Curry and Draymond Green when NBA free agency begins.

A trade for Anthony Davis also remains an option after recent reports that Davis and James could go to Golden State this offseason. But the Warriors are not operating under the assumption that they have to land both in a package deal.

Kawhi Leonard trade could happen 'today'

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Tuesday morning that the Los Angeles Clippers could trade Kawhi Leonard as soon as today ahead of the start to NBA free agency. The Toronto Raptors have been rumored as the leading contender to land Leonard. The two sides have agreed on player compensation, according to Windhorst, and there's a contract extension on the table for Leonard to consider.

The Raptors would include Brandon Ingram in a potential trade with the Clippers for Leonard, but they're still "haggling" over first-round draft picks to include.

When does NBA free agency officially start?

Now that the 2026 NBA Draft is done, the league's attention turns to the start of free agency, with the official "tampering" period beginning on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

But teams and free agents can't sign their contracts until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET when the NBA's moratorium on signings ends.

What you missed Monday: Signings, trades and more

There was a plethora of action across the NBA Monday, June 29, including a big trade that saw the Memphis Grizzlies sending two-time All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. The trade ended months of speculation about where Morant would play next, while bringing up new questions about what the Trail Blazers plan to do with their now-crowded backcourt.

Some big names also re-signed contracts with the current teams – taking some potential free agents off the board – including Kristaps Porzingis agreeing to a new deal with the Warriors, Jusuf Nurkic returning to the Jazz and the Spurs giving breakout player Julian Champagnie a new three-year contract.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA free agency LIVE updates: Trades, signings, latest buzz and intel

This offseason has been a pretty chaotic one so far. Between the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga to the now exhausting Jaylen Brown trade discourse, it feels like there isn’t room to talk about the rest of the team as a whole.

After watching the Celtics blow a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers and lose Game 7 at home in TD Garden, there was one glaring point on the roster that Boston needed to address: the center position. Once Joel Embiid came back in the series, it looked the Celtics had no answers to stop him. Between Neemias Queta constantly being in foul trouble, Nikola Vucevic going ice cold on offense and giving nothing on defense, and Luka Garza trying his best in limited minutes, Boston’s center position was getting torched all series long and looked like the biggest issue on the roster going into the offseason.

However, lost in the discourse of finding the next Celtics big man, a thought crossed my mind that feels like fans aren’t talking about enough: Boston really needs to address the guard rotation, too. The lack of big names at center and the fact that the Celtics are seemingly trying to trade Brown for a big man makes it easy to forget that Boston could also use an upgrade at point guard.

As a result of a possible Celtics-Nuggets trade reported by The Ringer’s Bill Simmons who said there was smoke around a possible deal that could send Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser to Denver in exchange for Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson, here we are. However, Brian Robb of MassLive reported that “Boston isn’t expected to have interest in Jamal Murray due to his sizable contract.” Although a Murray trade doesn’t seem likely, in my mind if the Celtics were serious about trading Brown, it would be for an elite guard.

Bill Simmons' Nuggets-Celtics trade proposal 👀

Jamal Murray + Cam Johnson for Jaylen Brown + Sam Hauser

"There's a lot of smoke billowing around Denver in general. Some I believe some I don't believe." pic.twitter.com/5NgD2feAwR

— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) June 29, 2026

Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson would be a great options for the Celtics to acquire if this Denver trade is a legitimate idea. Murray is coming off of a rough postseason, but was a first time All-Star and finished All-NBA 3rd Team in 2026, averaging 25.4 points and 7.1 assists per game on 48.3% shooting from the field and 43.5% from three. Johnson also had a career year shooting the basketball, averaging 12.2 points on a career high 48% from the field and 43% from three. Both of these guys would also answer the needs that Brad Stevens has mentioned about the guard position.

Stevens Addresses Guard Needs

Although the online discourse around the Celtics need at the guard position hasn’t been talked about enough, Stevens has addressed the need for help on the perimeter. In his press conference after the first round of the NBA Draft, Stevens talked about what Boston was looking for going into the offseason, saying: “size and then I would like to add maybe one more person with some speed on the perimeter.”

Brad Stevens said the priorities this offseason are size and maybe adding one more person with some speed on the perimeter.

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) June 24, 2026

Before the second round of the draft, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that Boston was potentially interested in taking 6’4″ guard Ryan Conwell out of Louisville at 40th overall, but the Miami Heat would trade up to the 37th pick to pick him before the Celtics got a chance.

Celtics Recent Guard History

When the Celtics won the championship in 2024, what was one of the big roster moves they made in the offseason? It was essentially swapping out Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon at the guard position for Jrue Holiday. Holiday had an incredible 2024 season where he averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 48% from the field and a career high 42.9% from three point range. On top of his offensive contributions, Holiday was an elite defender that could guard all five positions, culminating in an All-Defensive 2nd Team nod and 6th in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He was also crucial in the NBA Finals, becoming the Celtics third highest scorer behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, averaging 14.4 points, and arguably winning Game 2 on his own with a 26-point performance on 11-14 shooting.

The 2025 season season was a step back for Holiday and it led to him being trading to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons ahead of the 2026 season. Although there wasn’t a lot of expectations for him, Simons performed really well with Boston as their 6th man behind Payton Pritchard and Derrick White. In 49 games with the Celtics he averaged 14.2 points on 44% shooting from the field and 39.5% shooting from three in only 24.5 minutes per game.

The inconsistency issues started to arise when the Celtics traded him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic at the 2026 trade deadline. The Vucevic trade in theory seemed to be a good one. Boston needed more big man depth and both him and Simons were on expiring contracts, so a flip was easy. However, Vucevic didn’t really work out well in Boston and it left the Celtics guard position a little bit in limbo.

Derrick White had an abysmal offensive season in 2026 where averaged 16.5 points on a career worst 39.4% from the field and a second career worst of 32.7% from three. Payton Pritchard, who was okay as a starter with the Celtics, transitioned back into the 6th man role after the trade deadline and played some of his best basketball of the season, finishing with averages of 17.0 points and 5.2 assists on 46.4% shooting from the field and 37.7%s from three.

Outside of those two, it felt like the Celtics had a hole in the starting lineup where a second guard should have been in the second half of the season. They tried to fill it with Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh but it never felt right. In the playoffs, Boston saw Pritchard and White struggle to shoot all series and their lack of production from the guard position led to the Celtics ultimately losing in Game 7.

Who should the Celtics target?

There is a lot of guard depth on the roster already but out of those guys it doesn’t feel like there is that level of player the Celtics need. In my mind it feels like they need a player who can be consistent second/third scoring option at times and a ball handler to initiate the offense if needed at the guard position. However, If I was to play Brad Stevens going into the offseason, who are the options out there that can really solve the problem?

Murray like stated previously would be an interesting idea that would not be beloved if he was traded for Brown, but it would fill the role stated previously. On the free agency market right now there aren’t a ton of great options. Could a reunion with Marcus Smart or Anfernee Simons be in the cards? Not necessarily the elite guard I had in mind. Is there a chance De’Aaron Fox coming off maybe the worst NBA Finals performance ever for the San Antonio Spurs is a bounce back option? Maybe we try to bring the gang back together again and trade for Jrue Holiday back from the Portland Trail Blazers again?

The other option outside of making a move is hoping that Derrick White’s shooting from last season was just a fluke and he can be that third option offensive hub for the Celtics again, Payton Pritchard takes another leap and becomes an All-Star level player, and maybe a guy like Baylor Scheierman will get a bigger role and become a consistent offensive threat off the bench. According to HoopHype’s Mike Scotto, Boston has interest in the Mavericks’ jitterbug PG, Brandon Williams.

It feels like with the limited options available the Celtics will bank on an in house solution, but with Stevens making it known he’s looking, it wouldn’t surprise me if he added another guy on a shorter contract in free agency. Although the center position is still the biggest need that on Boston’s roster that takes up most of the spotlight, I just hope the guard position doesn’t get neglected this offseason as well.

The NBA offseason doesn’t officially arrive until Ben Simmons posts a shirtless workout video on Instagram. If Monday is any indication, we might be moving closer to the start of the official start of the offseason.

In an interview with Clay Skipper of Men’s Health, Simmons spoke about the back injury that caused his NBA career to go off the rails and his desire to rejoin the league, perhaps as early as this coming season.

“I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my ass on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed,” Simmons told Skipper. “I don’t have a plan on where.”

Simmons added: “Maybe I’ll go back to Philly. Miami would be nice. And not because it’s Miami—I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture.”

The thought of Simmons returning to the Sixers a few years after he forced his way off the team in one of the nastiest player-team splits in recent memory almost borders on parody. But if his back is finally healthy and he’s willing to settle for a veteran-minimum contract, there would be some logic to it from the Sixers’ perspective.

Why a Simmons reunion could work

If Simmons does return to the NBA—whether it’s on the Sixers or another team—no one should be expecting him to regain his pre-injury form.

Prior to his initial back injury in 2020, Simmons won Rookie of the Year in 2017-18 and made the All-Star team in each of the next three seasons. He also earned a spot on the All-NBA third team in 2019-20, had back-to-back spots on the All-Defense first team and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2019-20 and second the following season.

Simmons missed the entire 2021-22 campaign amidst his holdout from the Sixers and a back injury that flared up upon his arrival on the Brooklyn Nets. Over the ensuing three seasons, Simmons averaged only 5.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. That was a far cry from the 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists that he averaged in 33.9 minutes per game across his first four active seasons.

Granted, the Sixers wouldn’t need or expect Simmons to put up his pre-injury numbers. Between Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George and Joel Embiid, they have plenty of high-volume scorers. They just need to find gap-fillers now.

If healthy, Simmons has that type of potential for them. He could help run the offense, especially in transition, and defend multiple positions.

At this point, Simmons is never likely to develop a reliable jump shot. But during an appearance on the Maxey on the Mic podcast in 2023, Embiid told Maxey that he didn’t believe Simmons needed a jumper because “he was so good, he’s just a monster physically.”

“Like, someone is fricking 6’11”, just running up and down the floor faster than whatever,” Embiid added. “… I never believed that he actually needed a jumper. I just believed that if he could find a way to get his free throws to 75-80%, that would have changed everything. Because if you think about it, if he believed that he could make shots, what would he do? He would keep attacking, attacking, attacking, and never stopping. And then what would the defense have to do? He was already such a great playmaker.”

Maxey has made major strides as a floor general over the past few seasons, and Edgecombe showed promising flashes in that regard as a rookie as well. However, neither of them is a natural, “pure” point guard like Chris Paul. The Sixers could use additional ball-handling and playmaking, even after the addition of Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 in this year’s draft.

Simmo the Savage could help in that regard. However, there’s reason to be dubious of a reunion as well.

Why a Simmons reunion isn’t likely

Simmons told Skipper that ever since he suffered a pinched nerve in 2020, he’s been dealing with “debilitating flare-ups in his lower back and legs.”

“Simmons compares his injury to charging your phone with a finicky cord—any sudden movement or change to the angle and you’ve lost the juice,” Skipper added. “To further complicate matters, the pain and discomfort can linger long after the tissue has been repaired. Healing requires an entire nervous system reset.”

It seems as though he’s in a better place physically, but who’s to say that’ll hold up over the grind of an 82-game regular season, even in a reduced role? After all, it’s not like he was playing starters’ minutes with the Brooklyn Nets or Los Angeles Clippers before he took this past season off.

Given Embiid and George’s lengthy injury histories, the Sixers can’t afford to burn many more roster spots on oft-injured players. If Embiid, George and Simmons were all sidelined simultaneously, that’s a recipe for Maxey and Edgecombe to play an unsustainable minutes load for another season.

Simmons doesn’t seem to have a ton of mental baggage about his time in Philly—in fact, he joked with Skipper about his infamous passed-up shot in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals—but that’s only one part of the equation in whether to re-sign him. His health is a far bigger variable.

“Because Simmons’ injury involved nerves, he often had shooting pain in his glute and down his leg,” Skipper wrote. “He says he felt so fragile that oftentimes he had to change how he breathed. I ask if he can give me an example of something he could do easily before the injury that became difficult after it. He laughs at the absurdity of it. ‘Go and get a rebound. Dunk the ball. Guard. Play defense. Be physical. Everything you need to be a basketball player. It felt like I was just kinda out there as a body.'”

It’s great to hear that Simmons is feeling closer to his former self these days. No matter how frustrating his trade request and ensuing holdout was, no one should root for a player to develop a life-altering injury. Even if Simmons’ NBA return doesn’t materialize and he has to stick to sportfishing, at least he’s healthy enough to no longer be in chronic pain.

If Simmons is healthy enough to resume his NBA career, he’d be the type of low-risk, high-reward swing that teams in the Sixers’ position need to take… provided that he’s willing to sign a veteran-minimum contract, that is. The Sixers should not consider giving him the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (or even the taxpayer MLE) or the bi-annual exception. But this past season, the Sixers spent roster spots on Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon, who combined to play 192 minutes for them. That’s a low bar for even Simmons to clear.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

I always start these columns thinking there would barely be a couple of links to interesting stuff included in the bullet points, and I always end up with a massive list of stories and notes. Can’t help myself.

• Mandatory Knicks’ cap update, courtesy of ESPN’s Bobby Marks. New York now has six players under contract (Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Mo Diawara, Deuce McBride and Tyler Kolek form the bench with an average height of 6-4 and one above 6-5), is letting Ariel Hukporti (7-0) go to market, and will have to explore re-signing RFA/UFAs Mitchell Robinson (not happening), Jordan Clarkson (likely), Kevin McCullar (probable), Dillon Jones and Trey Jemison (never ever). All in all, the Knicks have $9 million to fill three roster spots, of which one/two could go to their 2026 rookies on super-min deals worth just $1.3 million (if I’m correct).
• The second-apron saga isn’t going away any time soon, or at least not until the Knicks have a proper backup center in their roster—of whom, as of now, they have exactly zero. The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy added more wood to the James Dolan fire on Monday. A tease (emphasis mine):

“People around the league believe going into the second apron is worthwhile for a legit championship contender. But the Knicks have operated as if they’re avoiding it, and sources said Dolan communicated his directive to the front office. Kevin Looney is pictured during the Pelicans’ March 29 game. Getty Images According to The Athletic, Dolan’s reluctance is mostly about spending more money. Could the owner change his mind in the 11th hour? Yes, theoretically. But there’s been no indication Dolan will.”

• Further down the piece, Bondy laid out one realistic path under the cap: bringing back Clarkson and Hukporti on minimum deals ($2.45 million each) while signing veteran center Kevon Looney (mutal interest reported) for roughly the same price.
• The New York Daily News echoed the same we’ve been reading and writing about regarding Mitch: even if the Knicks sacrifice other free agents (which they already are doing—even if not for much savings—in finishing Hukamania), there still will not be enough room to give Robinson the meaningful raise he’ll surely command elsewhere without breaking Dolan’s mandate.
• Little brother Brooklyn, meanwhile, seems ready to weaponize its cap space as the current NBA economy demands. According to The New York Post’s Brian Lewis, the Nets are expected to prioritize absorbing contracts and landing talent via trade rather than chasing big-name free agents. Among those mentioned as possible targets are the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III, the Thunder’s Cason Wallace, and the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown—although reports point to a Nets interest in signing Knicks backup center Robinson once FA opens on Tuesday.
• One of free agency’s spiciest storylines involves Pistons center Jalen Duren, who is tired of Detroit’s low-ball offers and seems locked into bolting out of Motown in a sign-and-trade deal that ends up filling his pockets to the max. The Kings and the Lakers are both set to met Duren starting at 6 p.m. today, and Sacramento appears the most aggressive and best-positioned franchise to land him, according to The Athletic. Here’s the gist (SAC would flip Domantas Sabonis for Duren) and a sample:

“The Kings plan to pitch the Pistons on a sign-and-trade offer that would send Sabonis to Detroit and could give the Pistons a worthy replacement for Duren. Duren very much wants to play in Sacramento, while Sabonis is likewise interested in landing with the Pistons.

“As for the Lakers, (their) best offerings might be draft capital rather than quality players, as Detroit could trade Duren into the Lakers’ salary-cap space.”

• You might think Jaylen Brown was tripping with his very public and never-ending streams and comments reacting to everything that hits the interwebs. Well, it turns out the Celtics are the ones showing some serious signs of lunacy. ESPN’s Shams Charania says the Celtics have asked multiple teams for “at least four first-round picks” in exchange for ostracized Jaylen. You know the league’s reaction to that? One anonymous general manager is predicting Boston to settle for “40 cents on the dollar.” What’s that? A first and a second? Can’t wait!
• The Heat could do nothing to prevent Andrew Wiggins from cashing in, as he should, with the Mixtape King opting into his player option and then signing a $64 million contract on top of that. That’s important because, believe it or not, Miami is (h/t Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald) in an even worse cap situation than the Knicks, having just $19 million to fill four roster spots, and that means they won’t be able to re-sign their best RFA in Norman Powell.
• Once-renowned Bradley Beal could be the biggest Miami Heat signing this free agency after he declined his player option following a six-game campaign. See what I was saying? The Heat might sign-and-trade Powell to get something in return.
• Portland, meanwhile, completed the latest NBA blockbuster and, in a nod to the good old times, decided to bring back the Jail Blazers (watch the Netflix doc if uninitiated) vibes by landing Ja Morant. Incredibly, the Grizzlies did worse.
• Speaking of nostalgia, the Bucks are bringing former point guard and shorts extraordinaire T.J. Ford back to Milwaukee as part of their coaching staff.
• Tingus Pingus Kristaps Porzingis signed a two-year deal with the Warriors and pretty much put an end to the Steph-AD-LeBron Hurt 3 Dream before it got off the ground.
• New York City is keeping the championship celebration alive for another month. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that every member of the Knicks will receive a temporary blue-and-orange street sign in Manhattan, with each sign placed on the street matching that player’s jersey number whenever possible (looking at you, Agent 00).
• The New York Post already found plenty of fans convinced they’ll become collector’s items long before then. Some of them openly said they’d gladly be the ones to steal them. Never change, New York.
• Not only does Ben Simmons claim he’s ready for an NBA comeback, but he’s already naming places. “Miami I walys would be nice,” he said, and “maybe I’ll go back to Philly.” Just like that, as if he had switched on God mode in NBA 2K. Sometimes you just have to laugh.
• And if what you want is to laugh, then don’t let this ESPN segment skip your viewing schedule today. What about the years-on-end same-old-Knicks narrative? Where’s that now? Ah, how things have changed…

the Kings??? lmaoo that boy had a taste of playoff basketball and said yeah i’m not built for it https://t.co/SCsWTsnW5n

— A ✩ (@adryanashton) June 29, 2026

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Purdue fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The NBA Draft has now come and gone with two Purdue players having their names called and two others singing with summer league opportunities after. That puts four new Purdue players with NBA opportunities. You’d always rather be drafted than signing as an undrafted free agent, so it makes sense that both Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn would seem to be the obvious choices here, but maybe you disagree with me. This week, with the holiday coming up it’s a short week and that means just the one question. So this week, take the time to answer who you think will have the best NBA career before loading up on hot dogs, hamburgers, and finding your seat for the fireworks. Results will be posted at the end of the week.

NBA Free Agency began at 6 PM ET last night, but we were already starting to hear news beforehand. For some players, they could technically make tentative deals with teams before the official window opened, and Coby White was one of the guys that took advantage. It was announced that White plans to a sign a three-year, $74 million dollar deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The announcement took a lot of the drama out of where White could land after entering unrestricted free agency following the 2025-26 season.

White was traded to the Hornets after spending the beginning of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. The trade drew a lot of criticism in Chicago because it was “too late” to get what they should’ve gotten out of the trade, so the Bulls had to settle for some second-round picks. Perhaps more interesting than the drama in Chicago is the fact that the Hornets just traded star point guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, meaning that White will likely slide into a starting role for the 2026-27 season. What kind of starting role? That part is unclear, but what is clear is that the Hornets prioritized him in whatever their future plans look like.

White finished his brief 2025-26 stint with the Hornets averaging 15.6 points and three assists per game. He shot an impressive 39.1% from three, which was a decent jump from his 34% clip that he was shooting at in Chicago before being traded.

To further speculate on what the Hornets’ plans are, it’s worth noting that they received former Duke player Grayson Allen in the LaMelo Ball trade, and they also have former Florida Gator Tre Mann. Should things stay the way that they are, it’s hard not to see White becoming the starting point guard, which was a role he was thrown into at times in Chicago. It’s pretty jarring going from a stellar facilitator like Ball to more of a scoring guard like White, but the Goldsboro native has grown into a capable floor general when he needs to be. The Hornets have to be thrilled to bring White back into the fold, and we’ll have to see how the rest of the roster takes shape over the next few weeks.

What do you think of White resigning with the Charlotte Hornets? Let us know in the comments below.

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania and The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, former Buck Malik Beasley has been indicted on gambling charges related to a sports betting scheme—such as point shaving and prop bets—that occurred during the 2023-24 season… when he was on the Bucks!

Federal prosecutors allege that Beasley had accrued millions in gambling debt and was loaned money by Ed Davis—who also played in the league for over a decade, including with Beasley during the 2020-21 season, when the two became friends—to pay it off. It is alleged that Beasley worked off that debt as part of a betting scheme with Davis and at least four other men, who collaborated to manipulate his performance in four games during the 2023-24 season. The games he is accused of manipulating his performance in are as follows:

• January 26, 2024: Bucks vs. Cavaliers
• February 27, 2024: Bucks vs. Hornets
• March 10, 2024: Bucks vs. Clippers
• March 21, 2024: Bucks vs. Nets

Put simply, Beasley was instructed to achieve (or not achieve) certain statistical goals within these games, with the group he was working with betting, in some cases, “tens of thousands of dollars” on him following through.

Within The Athletic’s article, Vorkunov described a few examples:

“The bettors wagered on Beasley to hit the ‘over’ prop bet on his rebounds against the Clippers, then celebrated when he collected his fourth rebound in the game’s final seconds, according to the indictment. The scheme went awry, according to prosecutors, after Beasley could not hit the ‘under’ on his rebounds against the Nets.”

If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because Beasley has been under investigation for over a year. If you’re interested in learning more, our Jackson Gross covered the news at the time the investigation was announced. After spending the 2023-24 season with the Bucks, Beasley signed a modest one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, which he thoroughly outplayed. This led to him being offered a lucrative three-year deal with the Pistons, but the offer was rescinded after Detroit was notified of the investigation.

“This is simply an investigation,” Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney said at the time. “At this point, Malik has not been charged with any crime and there has been no formal accusation of wrongdoing. Hopefully, everyone will afford him that same presumption of innocence that everyone else deserves.”

Well, now Beasley has been charged with a crime.

“We’ll review the indictment and vigorously defend the charges and maintain Malik’s innocence,” Haney recently told The Athletic.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass gave the following staement:

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictment unsealed today involving Malik Beasley and Ed Davis. Beasley last played during the 2024-25 season and Davis last played in the league during the 2021-22 season. We will continue to investigate this matter and cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

The nine-year NBA veteran is expected to voluntarily surrender to authorities this week.

I, for one, am pretty shocked by this news (even though we had some inclination of what might go down a year ago). My overall takeaway is that there was an unacceptable amount of chaos within the org after Bud was fired, Jrue was traded, and so on. I mean, hiring a poor coach in Adrian Griffin, replacing him with someone nearly just as bad… and then this was going on in the background? At some point, you just have to laugh at it all. Do others feel similar?

The Spurs are heading into free agency with their roster almost full. On Monday, they re-signed Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes to keep their rotation players from last season in place, and will head into Tuesday with 12 standard contracts, including the rookie deals for their two recent first-round picks.

The moves were not surprising at all. San Antonio reached the NBA Finals last season, after all, and can count on internal development from their young players. The team didn’t have cap space, so securing a deep roster before adding the final touches with some additions was always the likely outcome.

Let’s take a look at where the roster stands now and what’s likely to happen when free agency officially starts.

The Spurs signed Champagnie and Barnes to great deals

Before looking ahead, it’s important to note that the Spurs didn’t have to overpay their own free agents.

Champagnie had a team option on the last year of his deal, but the front office declined it and got him paid a summer sooner than he would have had they waited. They essentially gave them the equivalent of the full mid-level exception worth $15 million a year on a contract that declines in value, which is another smart detail. As a result, they locked down a 25-year-old wing who shot 38 percent from outside on high volume and is a solid defender. Just a good deal for a good player.

Barnes lost his starting spot to Champagnie last season, and even in the playoffs, he occasionally saw Carter Bryant leapfrog him in the rotation, so he could have decided to leave to try to get more playing time elsewhere. Instead, the veteran agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal to stay in San Antonio, which shows that he’s comfortable with the organization. A case could be made that he likely would have made less in the open market, but the short duration of the contract makes up for it and gives the front office a tradeable expiring piece if the two sides decide to part ways during the season.

The Spurs’ restraint on the past trade deadline allows them to spend now

A very quick look into the Spurs’ cap situation reveals that they have around $181 million in committed salary, counting the rookie scale contracts for their two first-round picks. The cap is expected to be set at an estimated $165 million, and the tax line at around $201 million. Again, these are estimates, but the picture is clear: San Antonio can use the entire mid-level exception worth $15 million and not venture into tax territory, mostly because they remained disciplined in the past trade deadline.

There was a good case to make back in February for the Silver and Black to use the expiring contracts of Kelly Olynyk, Jeremy Sochan, and Barnes to make an upgrade at forward. The problem is that most teams trading for expiring deals are trying to shed long-term money. Had the Spurs traded, say, Olynyk for someone making eight figures in the upcoming season, it would have been hard to retain Champagnie and Barnes while still having enough room under the tax to add someone else now. It seems like the plan was to prioritize flexibility to keep the rotation intact and potentially make an addition in the summer.

The Spurs can spend, but might not have room for a high-minutes player

The Spurs have the full mid-level exception at their disposal and enough room to use it fully on one player while still being under the tax line to round out their roster. They have been linked to most shooters with size, a list that includes Tobias Harris, John Collins, Dean Wade, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Rui Hachimura. Some of those players might sign for less than $15 million a year, but even in the best circumstances, they would command most of the exception. And they could definitely help a San Antonio team that was a man short in the playoffs. The problem is that while San Antonio has money to offer, it might not have playing time in the regular season.

The Spurs’ depth chart stands as follows:

PG: Stephon Castle – Dylan Harper

SG: De’Aaron Fox

SF: Devin Vassell – Carter Bryant

PF: Julian Champagnie – Keldon Johnson – Harrison Barnes

C: Victor Wembanyama – Luke Kornet – Jayden Quaintance – Tarris Reed Jr.

The frontcourt is crowded. Players will miss time, but there’s just not a lot of playing time when everyone is healthy. Even while assuming Barnes will be out of the rotation and Carter Bryant will get a bump in floor time by eating into Johnson’s minutes, there are still too many bodies at the forward spots. It would make no sense to pass on a clear upgrade if the front office thinks there is one, but if they don’t, spending big on another forward might not be wise. Keeping the mid-level exception to use during the season or using it on several players shouldn’t be out of the question.

---

The Spurs made two smart signings on Monday, and they set themselves up to have the chance to spend this offseason on an upgrade if they can find one by being disciplined in the past. Hopefully, the right player will be available to help take this group to another level, but if not, the front office made sure that Mitch Johnson will have the depth he needs in the regular season.