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...
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.
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
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.
Boston, MA - May 2: Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm talks to guard Jaylen Brown after the game. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
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.
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.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 25: Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives down the court against Mouhamed Gueye #18 of the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on October 25, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
Nov 4, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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.
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on February 08, 2025 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dusty May, Indiana men’s basketball’s latest prodigal son that wasn’t, is out of college basketball and off to the NBA, having been hired as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
May was born in Terre Haute and raised in Greene County before attending Indiana University and becoming a student manager under Bob Knight. His coaching star rose as fast as any other, going from the mid-major level in 2023 to Michigan in 2024 and now onto the NBA in 2026 after just two years in Ann Arbor, the latter concluding with a national championship in Indianapolis, of all places.
May’s return to Indiana would have been something out of an Indiana fan’s dreams but it, for several reasons, wasn’t meant to be. He, like Brad Stevens before him, led a different program to greatness before moving onto the NBA.
So, how do Indiana fans feel about May’s departure? We asked them.
The results aren’t surprising at all. May spent all of one game on the Assembly Hall sideline as an opposing head coach and it was probably enough. His presence then was already a reminder of what could have been, imagine if he spent years there with a national title or more to his name, the thing Indiana fans have craved for decades.
Indiana faces decently long odds in 2027, sitting at +6500 to win it all, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
The NBA's tampering period, during which teams are allowed to negotiate with all upcoming free agents from other teams, begins on Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. The rumors, however, are already in full swing, with constant speculation about where the best players might end up.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking all the news and rumors related to NBA free agency and trades, with live updates leading into the next key date on the league's offseason calendar. Here's what's happening right now:
Zach Lavine is opting in to the final year of his contract with the Sacramento Kings, according to multiplereports. He is set to make nearly $49 million during the 2026-27 based off the five-year max deal he initially signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2022. Lavine averaged 19.2 points in 39 games for the Kings last season. It was his lowest scoring average since the 2017-18 season, though Lavine remains a trade candidate, especially since he's now on an expiring deal.
James Harden has officially declined the $42.3 million player option in his contract, according to ESPN, but it's with the purpose of negotiating a new multi-year agreement with the Cavaliers. Harden was traded to Cleveland at the trade deadline this past season and helped lead the team to the Eastern Conference finals.
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.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 5: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been more than two weeks since the New York Knicks started calling themselves reigning NBA champions. It’s less than two days since free-agency festivities kick off, starting with negotiations between franchises and FAs at 3 p.m. ET tomorrow and the official opening of the market at 6 p.m. ET.
And while it’s reasonable for all of us to keep basking in the glory of the title, the focus must quickly shift from celebration to roster building, which already started with last week’s draft decisions, and particularly with the self-imposed financial constraints the Knicks’ front office will need to navigate.
The two most prominent free agents in New York’s books are both backups in center Mitchell Robinson and guard Landry Shamet, both of whom are going to have strong markets out there with multiple suitors interested in their services.
We’ve been discussing Robinson’s situation during the past few days, and you can find everything about it here (his comments) and here (his free-agent market, suitors, and reported clash between Dolan and the FO).
This post is all about Landry Shamet and how his situation might impact what’s next for the New York Knicks.
Sources: Jaylen Brown has drawn trade interest from the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Shamet is expected to draw significant interest across the league. Emphasis mine:
“Given his strong play during the regular season and the title run, Landry Shamet is expected to have a robust market in free agency with numerous teams interested. Shamet, despite being beloved by Knicks coach Mike Brown and the front office, is not a lock to return to the Knicks, however.”
Scotto added that rival teams are “salivating at the possibility of prying Shamet away” from New York following his strong regular season and playoff performances.
Although Scotto didn’t name any particular suitors, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson mentioned the Miami Heat as a candidate to offer him a deal as they “try to add at least two skilled three-point shooters.”
Shamet’s value surged massively during his second season with New York, as he averaged 9.3 points and two three-pointers per game in the regular season (shooting 39.2% from three), then elevated his efficiency in the playoffs by shooting 47.5% from beyond the arc.
Shamet can space the floor and would fit seamlessly into any team that grabs him, as he proved by showcasing his talents in Mike Brown’s squad throughout the 2026 title season. All things considered, Scotto noted what we all are fearing around these places: retaining both Shamet and Mitchell Robinson is considered unlikely if the Knicks maintain their stance against exceeding the second apron, and even bringing back one of them might be hard depending on the market both UFAs find on June 30.
Following the extensions of Mo Diawara and Jose Alvarado, and not counting the likely-minimum deals offered to rookies Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil, New York has roughly $14 million in space below the second apron while still needing to fill four roster spots.
The expectation is for Robinson to command offers at or above the $15 million mid-level exception, while Shamet has been projected to receive a new contract starting at around $8 million per year, potentially more if a bidding war emerges.
For context, minimum-value contracts for second-round rookies and free agents start at $1.36 million, meaning re-signing Shamet to an $8 million deal, as well as the two rookies for a combined $2.75 million, would leave the Knicks with just $3.25 million to fill the remaining roster spot and sign a backup center to replace Robinson. Even if Shamet signs for a discount (and let’s be honest, fairly unrealistic) deal around $6 million, the Knicks would still have just around $5.25 million waiting for their backup center.
In that context, Shamet’s rising market may ultimately price him out of New York’s plans, regardless of how highly he is regarded internally, as bringing him back would put the Knicks in a very tight cap situation to bring a capable free agent to replace Robinson as the team’s first center off the pine.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 16: Moritz Wagner #21 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a shot against Jock Landale #31 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on March 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the past 48 hours, the Sixers have been linked to both John Collins and Dean Wade as possible free-agent targets. That strongly suggests they’re considering using the $15.0 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which does not bode well for Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr.’s chances of returning to Philadelphia next season.
If the Sixers use the non-taxpayer MLE, they’d be hard-capped at the roughly $209 million first apron through next June. With more than $172 million in guaranteed salary already on their books, they’d have a tough time spending the full non-taxpayer MLE and re-signing either Grimes or Oubre while staying under the hard cap, much less both.
If they strike out on Collins, Wade and their other non-taxpayer MLE targets, the Sixers could always pivot toward using the smaller $6.1 million taxpayer MLE instead. That would hard-cap them at the $222 million second apron, but they might be able to re-sign Oubre, Grimes and/or Andre Drummond while still adding an impact free agent.
With that in mind, let’s run through a handful of free agents whom the Sixers could potentially target with the taxpayer MLE.
Based on the current $165 million projection for the 2026-27 salary cap, the taxpayer MLE is projected to start at $6.065 million. Teams can only offer one- or two-year contracts with the taxpayer MLE, so the most that the Sixers could offer is a two-year, $12.4 million deal.
Jock Landale, C
The Sixers could have acquired Jock Landale essentially for free ahead of the February trade deadline. Two days after the Memphis Grizzlies shipped him to the Utah Jazz, the Jazz sent him to the Atlanta Hawks for cash considerations.
The Sixers didn’t pursue him at the deadline because doing so would have pushed them back into luxury-tax territory. It’s not too late for them to rectify that mistake, but it’ll be more costly now.
Between Memphis and Atlanta this past season, Landale averaged a career-high 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in only 22.1 minutes per game. He also shot 38.3 percent on a career-high 2.8 three-point attempts per game (193 in total). While Landale might not be as prolific of a rebounder as Drummond, he’d still be an upgrade at backup center behind Joel Embiid.
The Sixers are reportedly interested in Landale, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, although he’s “expected to have a strong market” with interest from at least a half-dozen teams. Scotto warned that Landale is expected to “command offer north of the bi-annual exception in free agency” as well.
The good news is that the $6.1 million taxpayer MLE is slightly north of the $5.5 million bi-annual exception. But with this many suitors after him—Scotto specifically mentioned the Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers—the Sixers might have a tough time outbidding all of them.
Ziaire Williams, SF
To maximize their financial flexibility this offseason, the Brooklyn Nets declined their $6.25 million team option on Ziaire Williams on Sunday, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The soon-to-be 25-year-old averaged 10.2 points and shot a career-best 34.3 percent from deep this past season with Brooklyn, although he hasn’t shot above 43.0 percent from the floor since his rookie campaign in 2021-22. The Grizzlies originally traded up to the No. 10 pick to select him, but he has yet to live up to his predraft hype.
Williams is the exact type of reclamation project that the Sixers should be willing to gamble on. He doesn’t turn 25 until September, so he could become a part of their long-term future if he popped in Philly. However, the Sixers could face competition from the Los Angeles Lakers if they do decide to pursue Williams, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
“The bet for the Lakers would be that at 6-9 with a nearly 40-inch vertical leap, that Williams could be an impact defensive player with room for growth on the offensive side of the ball. He has fans inside the Lakers’ facility.
“There are local connections too — Williams was a teammate of Bronny James at Sierra Canyon.”
The Sixers took swings on a bunch of recent former first-round picks as “second-draft” candidates under former team president Daryl Morey, including Dalen Terry and MarJon Beauchamp last year alone. Could new team president Mike Gansey pursue the same strategy with Williams?
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG
The Denver Nuggets appear to be in cost-cutting mode as they look to reorient around Nikola Jokić. Tim Hardaway Jr. could wind up being a cap casualty for them.
Hardaway finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year race this past season after averaging 13.5 points while shooting 44.7 percent overall and a career-best 40.7 percent from three-point range in only 26.6 minutes per game. He played in 80 games this season but started only six of them, making him a very worthy 6MOY candidate.
More than half of Hardaway’s field-goal attempts have come from long range in each of the past seven seasons, and he’s shot above 38 percent from deep four times in that span. The Maxey + Embiid + shooters formula has historically worked wonders for the Sixers, and Hardaway is among the best available shooters on the free-agent market this offseason.
According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Miami Heat are expected to “have strong interest” in both Hardaway and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, as they look to corner the market on over-the-hill veterans to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. However, the Heat are hard-capped at the first apron and could have a tough time filling out their roster as is without clearing additional salary.
The 34-year-old Hardaway might not be a long-term piece of the puzzle for the Sixers, but he’d be a welcome addition to maximize their win-now chances.
Khris Middleton, SF
In honor of Morey, we had to include one washed veteran here, right?
Middleton played in 63 games this past season split between the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, and he averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in only 22.8 minutes per game. He shot a respectable 36.0 percent from three-point range, too. However, the days of him threatening to join the 50-40-90 club are long gone.
Injuries have hampered Middleton in recent years, which is why the Milwaukee Bucks traded him to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma at the 2025 trade deadline. The Wizards kept his minutes in check because they had zero interest in winning games this past season, but the Sixers presumably wouldn’t ask Middleton to play more than 20-25 minutes per game off the bench, either.
Given his age (34) and recent injury history, Middleton would be a risky signing even with the taxpayer MLE. But in terms of pure talent, the three-time All-Star might be the best player available in this price range.
Unfortunately, he’s already been “strongly linked” to Antetokounmpo and the Heat, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. At this point, it’d be surprising if Middleton didn’t end up reuniting with Antetokounmpo on South Beach, but one can dream for now.
Moe Wagner, C
Although Franz Wagner still has four years left on his max contract with the Orlando Magic, his older brother, Moe, might be moving on from Orlando this summer.
Moe has been with the Magic since he signed a rest-of-season contract with them in April 2021. He averaged 11.1 points on 56.0 percent shooting in only 18.5 minutes per game with them between the 2022-23 and 2024-25 campaigns, but he suffered a torn ACL in late December 2024 that caused him to miss the remainder of that season and the beginning of the 2025-26 season as well.
With both Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze under contract for next season, Wagner may be a luxury that the Magic can no longer afford. Stein and Fischer reported Saturday that he’s projected “to have multiple suitors in free agency” and has “a willingness to play elsewhere” even though his brother doesn’t seem likely to leave Orlando anytime soon.
If the Sixers whiff on Landale, Wagner would also be a solid backup-center addition to compete with Adem Bona for minutes behind Embiid.
Marvin Bagley III PF/C
Marvin Bagley III will always be known as the player whom the Sacramento Kings chose instead of Luka Dončić or Trae Young, which is a reputation that’s tough to shake.
While Bagley will never become an MVP candidate like Dončić or a multi-time All-Star like Young, he quietly resurrected his NBA career last season after looking like he might be in danger of falling out of the league entirely.
Bagley split 60 games between the Wizards and Dallas Mavericks last season and averaged 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in only 20.0 minutes per game. He also shot a scorching 61.8 percent overall and 46.2 percent from deep, albeit on only 52 total three-point attempts.
The 6’10”, 235-pound Bagley logged a majority of his time at power forward earlier in his career, but he’s largely slid over to center over the past few seasons. His teams’ net rating has largely been abysmal with him on the floor over that span, but he’s also largely played for abysmal teams in recent years.
Landale and Wagner should be higher on the Sixers’ free-agent big board than Bagley, but he’d be a reasonable backup plan in case they strike out on their top frontcourt targets.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 06: General manager Jon Horst of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during a press conference to introduce Taylor Jenkins as the new head coach of the Bucks at Milwaukee Art Museum on May 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the final hours of the Bucks’ self-imposed deadline to deal Giannis, Jon Horst and Milwaukee’s entire brass had to make a franchise-altering decision—the ramifications of which would span the next decade. After weeks of scouring the marketplace and listening to offers, Miami and Boston emerged as the two leading horses in the race, with Antetokounmpo reportedly happy to join either team.
It had seemed like GA-to-Miami was a foregone conclusion for weeks. After all, their offer of picks, young pieces, and established players was what Jon Horst was looking for. They are also in the East, so that got Giannis’ tick of approval, as he reportedly wanted to remain in the conference on his next team. So, what was the hold-up? Well, while the Heat’s offer was good, it definitely wasn’t great. Horst had his bird in hand, and he knew it wasn’t going to fly away.
But although Miami’s offer was never going to be completely off the table, the Bucks GM ran the risk of biting off more than he could chew by waiting. What if Miami got intel that other teams had dropped out, leaving them as the only dog in the fight? They could have begun to pull assets, and although Horst would have been pissed off, that’s the game he played by banking on shaky leverage.
In any event, the initial offer from Miami in the weeks leading up to the draft sounded something like Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., pick 13, and two future firsts. Now, that’s a solid offer, but the Heat were still holding back on some of their assets. What Horst needed was a way to place more pressure on Pat Riley to squeeze those final assets. He needed another suitor.
Enter, the Boston Celtics.
After weeks of sources from inside Boston insisting to every and any reporter that—while they would love to get their hands on Giannis—there was no way they would ever (ever!) consider trading Jaylen Brown to do so, the façade fell by the wayside. Two days before the draft, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst appeared on Get Up to declare that the Celtics were indeed offering Brown for Antetokounmpo. Checkmate, Pat Riley.
As those final 48 hours wound down, various insiders began reporting that Boston had, in the 11th hour, taken the lead in the two-horse race for Giannis, an absolute gut punch for the front office down in South Beach, I presume, who probably thought they had this, him, in the bag. Now, who knows if that was ever true: that the Celtics had “taken the lead.” Who knows where that reporting came from. What I do know is that the Bucks greatly benefited from that information getting out there…
Regardless, at that moment, Horst had masterfully engineered exactly what he needed: a bidding war. The Celtics—who reportedly intended to only offer Brown for Antetokounmpo in a one-for-one swap originally—added two firsts on top of the five-time All-Star, but apparently stopped short of including young guns Hugo Gonzales and/or Baylor Scheierman. The Heat responded by all but emptying their cupboard, relenting on Kasparas Jakucionis, a 2030 first-round pick swap, and a 2033 second-round pick.
So that was that. The final two offers were on the table, both improved and as good as they were going to get. There was smoke that the Bucks’ owners wanted a bona fide star back in the trade, which meant the Celtics were their preferred deal. It’s my stance that accepting such a deal—keeping a possibly (probably) disgruntled Brown in Milwaukee against his will just to sell tickets and stay relevant—would have been a bad choice, so I’m glad they chose the Heat deal. They made the correct, smart decision, in my opinion.
That said, my personal preference was going with the Celtics’ offer, but not keeping Brown. Instead, I wanted to to send him to Portland in a three-way trade that would have sent Milwaukee’s picks (that they traded for Dame) back, along with more players and draft capital; who knows if that was truly an option (recent reporting of the Blazers’ continued interest in Brown indicates that it probably would have been).
Nevertheless, it’s really “six of one, half a dozen of the other” between that sort of theoretical transaction and the deal they accepted from the Heat. Given the circumstances, the Bucks got a solid return for a 31-year-old who, while certainly a generational superstar when he’s on the court, has dealt with mounting injury concerns.
This is where I need to give Jon Horst his flowers. All the flowers. As Zac so eloquently outlined in his own experience, the days leading up to the transaction were hell for me too (and, I can only assume, many other fans). My anxiety was through the roof as I woke up every day only to find out that they still had not struck a deal. I just wanted it all to be over. But Horst had a plan and executed it to a tee, remaining patient until he got what he wanted. Salute.
And not for nothing, but the Bucks GM also deserves major kudos for keeping Giannis off the court amid his pressure campaign to play late in the season. As I wrote about back in March, this trade package would have been significantly reduced if Horst had given in to Antetokounmpo and the two-time MVP had sustained a long-term injury.
I’ve also written about the other packages Milwaukee could have taken—from the trade deadline, and even what would have happened if Horst initiated talks last offseason—but I’ll leave that for a separate story.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 134-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The start of free agency is just hours away. While teams won’t be able to actually sign contracts until July 6th, they can start negotiating on June 30th, and there are a lot of interesting names both in the free agency pool and on the trade block. We’ve already had the massive Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami move, and there could be more coming.
The Spurs, coming off a Finals appearance in their return to the playoffs, might not go for a big splash, but they do have some roster spots to fill and some roles where they could use an upgrade or more experience. So let’s see what San Antonio needs, how it can get it, and what would make for a successful offseason.
Do the Spurs have cap space? How can they sign free agents?
The Spurs could technically carve up some minimal cap space, but in reality, they’ll act as an over-the-cap team. So what does that mean? Well, they’ll have the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception worth around $15 million at their disposal, as well as the bi-annual exception worth around $5.5 million since they didn’t use it last year. It should be enough to add some talent.
They will also be able to re-sign their own free agents if they have Bird rights to them without much concern, since they are well below the second apron. Whether they’ll have an interest in bringing most of them back is a different story, but there have been reports that they might try to keep Harrison Barnes. Currently, they have nine players under standard contracts, but that number will move to 11 once they sign their two first-round draft picks.
What about trades? Can the Spurs make something big happen?
The Spurs have young players, draft picks, and contracts large and small to make a big trade, but not without losing key contributors in the process. They had expendable expiring contracts last season, like Kelly Olynyk’s and Harrison Barnes’, to match salaries easily, but now to make a big move for an expensive player, they would have to include guys like Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and/or Luke Kornet, all of whom were in the rotation last year.
Does that mean there’s no chance a trade happens? Not really. Johnson and Kornet struggled in the playoffs, and despite their contributions in the regular season, the front office might consider them expendable. De’Aaron Fox also wasn’t at his best in the postseason, but Brian Wright has said the team remains committed to him. He’s also said he expects most of this group to be back, which likely means that while possible, a big move is unlikely.
What are the Spurs’ needs?
The Spurs have a strong foundation, but there’s one type of player that they are missing: a big forward who can shoot and also spend time as a small-ball center. Now, that type of player is extremely hard to find, and every team that doesn’t have one wants one, so there are not many available. Especially not proven playoff performers who could be had with the mid-level exception.
That said, San Antonio could still use someone who can fill one of the two roles. Among the available big forwards who can shoot, there are names like Tobias Harris, Sandro Mamukelashvili, John Collins, Saddiq Bey, and Rui Hachimura, among others, who will likely sign for mid-level exception money. The Spurs could also retain Barnes to fill that role or rely on the development of Carter Bryant.
Are there any Spurs-related rumors out there?
Unsurprisingly, the Spurs have been linked to a bunch of forwards, but there’s nothing concrete. They are reportedly “expected” to be interested in John Collins and Dean Wade, according to The Stein Line Mark Stein($) and HoopsHype Michael Scotto, respectively. Now, expected to be doesn’t mean they are, but they could be. Stein did say the Spurs are interested in Rui Hachimura, so that seems more of a report than speculation.
The Spurs were also linked to Kawhi Leonard by ESPN’s Bobby Marks and are reportedly one of the two franchises with which Leonard would sign an extension, with the other being the Raptors, according to Stein($). But while Toronto is reportedly interested in a reunion, there has been no news about whether San Antonio is. The answer, considering how badly things ended between franchise and player, is likely “no” even before considering the Clippers’ potentially high asking price.
What’s a realistic scenario for the Spurs in free agency?
Anything can happen in the NBA. We’ve seen signings and trades no one was expecting. But considering how good the Spurs were last season, the tools they have at their disposal to add talent and the few holes on the roster, it wouldn’t be surprising if this offseason is a quiet one for San Antonio.
As mentioned, getting a forward with size who can shoot is the biggest need for the Spurs. They will likely try to find someone using part of the entirety of the mid-level exception. Before the draft, getting a quality third big man seemed like a need, but after selecting two centers, including a seemingly NBA-ready big man in Tarris Reed Jr., it now seems like more of a luxury. Still, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to secure the services of either a shooting big man or a rim protector. If someone who can play is available, either with part of the mid-level exception or the bi-annual exception, it would be smart to secure their services.
It’s hard to name the targets when there haven’t been many reports about who the Spurs want, but a successful offseason would be to get, say, Rui Hachimura and Larry Nance Jr., or John Collins and Simone Fontecchio, for example. While those specific players might not be available, as long as the Spurs add some shooting and size, the offseason would be a success. If they retain Barnes, adding a big man or a guard for cheap to round out their roster would likely be the play.
When does free agency start again? And how can I remain informed?
Teams can start negotiating with free agents on Tuesday, June 30th, at 5 p.m. CT. Make sure to visit Pounding the Rock for all your Spurs-related news and discussion.
Nov 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; A Houston Rockets fan holds a sign before the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Lately I have had several ideas about what piece I wanted to write next. For instance, is Ime Udoka this current Rockets’ version of Don Cheaney, Del Harris, Mark Jackson, or Tom Thibodeau? All guys who changed the trajectory of teams that would eventually become champions under the next head coach that took their place. Or is he Rudy Tomjanovich, Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr, or Mike Brown… the coach who will see the Rockets through to the promised land? While I’d still love to debate that with you all in the comment section, I am saddened by the fact that this will be a different type of article. I am bidding you all farewell as a staff writer.
Two years ago, when former staff writer Lachard Binkley called me and asked if I would be interested in writing for The Dream Shake, I couldn’t believe it. At that time, I had been hosting my own Houston sports podcast for less than a year, and I had invited Lachard onto my show very early on and to my surprise he accepted. I had reached out to so many writers, radio hosts, podcasters, and content creators who all said no if they didn’t just flat put ignore me. Lachard however, responded to the very first message I sent him and was happy to come talk Rockets basketball with anyone who loves this team as much as he does. It felt so amazing for someone I had been looking up to and admiring his work from afar, to see me as his equal.
In my wildest dream I figured that Lachard would just become a regular guest on my show up until the point he moved on to bigger and better things. One day in July 2024 he called me and told me that he had gotten a gig writing for SI.com. Here is where I figured he’d be telling me that he no longer had time to make guest appearances on my show. But no… instead he asked me if I would be interested in replacing him on the writing staff at TDS. There was no way he was serious, not in my mind. Of all the people this man knows and has come across in the course of his career, he’s asking me? Why?
I’ll be honest. I’ve never actually asked Lachard that question. I did however thank him profusely and said, “Hell yeah I wanna write for The Dream Shake!” He encouraged me to slow my roll and informed me I’d still have to apply and get accepted, but he gave me Darren Yuvan’s number and said to give him a call. I immediately hung up and did just that. I left Darren a voicemail and told him that Lachard Binkley gave me his number. In my opinion other than perhaps Kelly Iko respectively… there is no bigger name drop for TDS. I was still in shock. Honestly, I wasn’t convinced that I would hear back from Darren for no other reason than as a show of respect for Lachard who contributed so much to this website. Perhaps Darren wasn’t too optimistic himself. After all, I had zero experience nor any formal training in writing. However, he did call me back and asked that I’d write something Rockets related and send it to him so he could better gauge my ability.
Earlier that month, the great Gene Peterson had just passed, and for my submission to Darren I chose to write a tribute to the man who helped me fall in love with Rockets basketball. I told the story of how when I was a kid, I wasn’t allowed to watch West Coast games because my bedtime was 9:00 pm. So, I would go in my room and hide under my bed with my clock radio turned down very low with my ear to the speaker and listen to Gene and Jim Foley call the games. From that little boy who would literally cry himself to sleep whenever the Rockets lost, to potentially writing for the iconic website named after my favorite players signature move. Talk about full circle.
You can guess the rest… but for the Spurs and Mavs fans who may stumble across this and have a hard time putting two and two together… I got the gig.
It has been a blast covering the Rockets these past two years, and even more fun to engage with my fellow Rockets fans and TDS faithful. Even the ones who think my takes suck and that I have no clue what I’m talking about. Those are actually my favorite! I wish I could continue but due to some health complications I’m dealing with I’ve decided that if I cannot give my all to make sure every piece of work I put out is the absolute best I can do, then I’d be cheating myself and more importantly it would be cheating all of you. Instead, I’m going to revert to being a part of this community as a fan, but I want to thank every one of you who took the time out of your day to give me a voice.
To Lachard Binkley, thank you so much for presenting me with the opportunity of a lifetime and thank you for always being just one of the guys despite your success. To my colleagues Xiane, Holly, Armin, Anthony, and James, you are all so very talented and your love for this team and this website jumps off of every piece you write. It’s been an honor to be in your company. Last but certainly not least to Darren Yuvan… sending you the message of my resignation is one of the toughest things I’ve done in some time. I hope you understand that I love this team and this website too much to let my pride get in the way. You, this site, and the fans deserve my best and I just haven’t been able to give that lately. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity of a lifetime. This isn’t goodbye, just farewell.
If this is how it ends — the shock over its suddenness and the divisiveness already emerging between fans ahead of the seemingly inevitable Jaylen Brown trade this summer could spark decades of debate.
Some of that could become resolved with answers in the near and long-term. But for now we’re left with: why?
A Jaylen Brown-for-Giannis Antetokounmpo swap, while itself an agonizing decision, would’ve at least garnered some understanding and patience from fans. Let’s see how it goes. For the die-hard Celtics fans, no Brown departure would come without enormous pain. For those more focused on the team’s success and appreciating Antetokounmpo’s all-time credentials, a trade would’ve symbolized new hope after a disappointing playoff loss.
But Giannis never came and, by most accounts, Brown will still leave this offseason. Brad Stevens, at times, spoke in the past tense about his gratitude toward the superstar he coached and helped develop from 2016-2021. When asked if Brown will be on the team next fall, Stevens left the door open to anything happening. And since, reports of the Celtics and numerous teams engaging in trade talks followed with limited push-back from the team. Brian Windhorst went as far as to state it plainly: the Celtics will trade Brown this offs.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said last week. “The one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate. Great person to be around. Whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires or before, there’s a lot to celebrate. We have a great relationship and an open relationship where we talk about everything. But I don’t want to predict the future.”
It’s unclear for what, exactly. As of Sunday, Michael Scotto cited the Nets, Blazers, Nuggets, Clippers, Hornets, Hornets and Hawks as teams that expressed interest. Many moved on. The Timberwolves and Celtics reportedly discussed a deal that would’ve sent Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert to Boston. Minnesota went with LaMelo Ball. Shams Charania pointed toward a Portland team I’ve also heard has had interest in Brown going back to the first Damian Lillard era there. Yet MassLive indicated Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan are off the table, to varying degrees. The Cavs haven’t shown interest in the Evan Mobley swap that Chris Mannix proposed.
Really? Jaylen’s available and the Celtics can’t dream of Clingan, Reid, or a Jalen Duren sign-and-trade? And Boston, given that market, hasn’t settled on simply retaining Brown with three years left on his contract?
We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, and it’s clear the Antetokounmpo letdown and the perception of a disgruntled Brown following his near-ousting opened the floodgates of suitors hoping to land him for a minimal price. The Celtics counteracted that with their demand of four first-rounders, conveyed by Charania. Even if they land that, however, it’s hard to imagine the Celtics standing in a better position today with the players discussed and attainable in all these hypothetical deals. I thought someone put it well last week — Brown and Tatum have at least a punter’s chance at a title in this parity era. The returns we’re talking about would give Boston no chance.
Yet, again, we haven’t heard strong indication that Boston could simply settle to reuniting Brown and Tatum for 2026-27, a combination Stevens has long believed gives the Celtics a shot. Beyond that, Brown’s efficiency scoring inside the arc and getting to the free throw line more often would fit into Stevens’ desire to see more rim pressure from his offense.
The roster around them certainly deteriorated in recent years, to the point where Brown and Derrick White are the only paths to upgrading, or acquiring the assets to do so in the near future. That’s where the team deserves some criticism for a string of roster moves aimed at recovering the maximum salary and luxury tax relief, rather than the best basketball return. The Celtics have nothing to show for Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday and Anfernee Simons, while Al Horford and Luke Kornet left in free agency.
Brown becoming the best option left to upgrade isn’t a good reason to trade him.
That’s where the Celtics stand, in a bad position of leverage despite Brown’s heroics in 2025-26. His MVP-caliber season should have positioned him at the peak of his value, whether to Boston or others. Nobody appears fixated on building around him. His exorbitant contract and new restrictive cap penalties certainly play a role in that. Even Antetokounmpo didn’t return one of the league’s most promising young players, depending on your feelings about Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis. Teams don’t want to move cost-controlled ascending players who could become stars in the near future. Especially with extension talks opening for Brown on July 26, potentially worth two-years and more than $140 million beginning in his mid-30s.
That’s a possible factor here, especially if the Celtics want to get ahead of that. ClutchPoints reported last week that Brown did not ask out of Boston, and Brown’s made no indication as much through limited-to-no commentary throughout the saga. In fact, shortly after the Celtics lost in the playoffs, Brown expressed a desire to play in Boston for the next decade. He’s made his love for the city known. Though, it’s certainly possible that all sides, through the candid talks between Brown, his agent and Boston last week, reached the conclusion of a break-up as the best path forward. That would tie together some of the questions we have regarding how this unfolded.
Many still wonder why, according to reports, Hugo González, Baylor Scheierman and more first-round picks became the hang-up in an Antetokounmpo deal. That headline put all of the team’s young players in a difficult position following promising steps in their careers. Could Boston at least have parted with some of them, especially knowing what uncertainty would follow with Brown? They also could’ve never entered Antetokounmpo talks knowing that Milwaukee could ask for that much.
If the Celtics simply pursued Antetokounmpo as one of numerous outlets to just move on from Brown, not additional players, that outcome becomes more understandable. It’s unclear, in that case, how they didn’t have alternative Brown trades prepared.
The Celtics might have misjudged Brown’s market, at least relative to their perceived value of him. And thus the increasingly toxic conversation surrounding him reached a new high following Bobby Marks’ note of where one analytics guy ranked Brown. Perhaps that debate yesterday, and the struggle to find value for Brown, serves as some reminder that Brown’s skillset, however flawed, might fit the Boston Celtics best. Through his ability to share responsibilities with Tatum, the knowledge of Boston’s staff to get the best out of him and his own motivation that he’s admitted has stemmed, in part, from slights he’s felt right within the building.
This could be the next one in an everlasting cycle if no trade pans out this offseason, certainly a possibility if low-ball offers continue. Still, this feels different from past Brown trade sagas. The Celtics, at least according to the reporting, have moved with more urgency to find the next possible destination than they have to indicate that they’re focused on moving forward in tandem with Brown. Of course, they might’ve already decided they’re past that point, which would leave a Brown departure all the more hard to swallow. And difficult to understand.
The question we’ll all ask, regardless of the outcome into July: how did it get to this point with one of the greatest players in franchise history? From Finals MVP to proof of performance as a top option to the centerpiece of an Antetokounmpo trade to … bring back whatever the best combination of future assets is?
I’ve never been more perplexed across my years covering this franchise.
“I’ll always keep our conversations private,” Stevens said. “Regardless of what the content of those conversations are like. I don’t love the fact anytime it’s a big public thing. As you know, we try to keep things as close the vest and quiet as possible, at the same time, knowing that the rumor mill is the rumor mill, and there is going to be a lot of noise out there. That’s why you also try to meet and be as upfront as possible. I can’t say enough good things about Jaylen, but I certainly am empathetic toward what that’s probably felt like.”
According to Spotrac, Barlow’s 2026-27 salary is approximately $3.4 million and Terry’s is approximately $2.6 million.
Initially signed to a two-way contract last summer, Barlow inked a standard NBA deal in February. He appeared in 71 games, started 59, and averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in 23.8 minutes per contest.
“Super impactful,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said of Barlow after his team’s April 1 win over the Wizards. “Again, just tremendous effort at all times. Just doesn’t really make many mistakes. … You just don’t see him blowing too many switches. You don’t see him missing block-outs. He’s really reliable with the ball. … Just hard play and high IQ.”
Barlow shifted to the bench for his first NBA playoffs and played in nine of the Sixers’ 11 postseason games. The 23-year-old’s best personal moment was a good small-ball center stint in Game 2 of the Sixers’ second-round series with the Knicks. Over 16 minutes, Barlow posted six points on 3-for-3 shooting, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a tight loss without Joel Embiid at Madison Square Garden.
The 23-year-old wing played 14 times for the Sixers in the regular season and averaged 4.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. He was not part of the Sixers’ playoff rotation.
The Sixers have declined Trendon Watford’s team option of $2.8 million, a source confirmed. The Athletic first reported the news.
That means the 25-year-old forward is set to hit unrestricted free agency. Teams can officially begin negotiations with all free agents starting Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.
According to Spotrac, Barlow’s 2026-27 salary is approximately $3.4 million and Terry’s is approximately $2.6 million.
Initially signed to a two-way contract last summer, Barlow inked a standard NBA deal in February. He appeared in 71 games, started 59, and averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in 23.8 minutes per contest.
“Super impactful,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said of Barlow after his team’s April 1 win over the Wizards. “Again, just tremendous effort at all times. Just doesn’t really make many mistakes. … You just don’t see him blowing too many switches. You don’t see him missing block-outs. He’s really reliable with the ball. … Just hard play and high IQ.”
Barlow shifted to the bench for his first NBA playoffs and played in nine of the Sixers’ 11 postseason games. The 23-year-old’s best personal moment was a good small-ball center stint in Game 2 of the Sixers’ second-round series with the Knicks. Over 16 minutes, Barlow posted six points on 3-for-3 shooting, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a tight loss without Joel Embiid at Madison Square Garden.
The 23-year-old wing played 14 times for the Sixers in the regular season and averaged 4.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. He was not part of the Sixers’ playoff rotation.
That means the 25-year-old forward is set to hit unrestricted free agency. Teams can officially begin negotiations with all free agents starting Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.
