Category: NBA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

This NBA offseason looks like it could be a memorable one.

The league has already experienced seismic trades, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo's move from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves' big swing acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets.

But stars such as Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and perhaps even Anthony Davis of the Washington Wizards are among the big names reportedly available that could be on new teams shortly. LeBron James, meanwhile, leads the list of potential free agents up for grabs this offseason.

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:

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

Zach Lavine, Sacramento Kings contract update

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 declines player option with Cavaliers

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.

Who are the best available NBA free agents?

With free agency about to really heat up, all eyes turn to a pair of former MVPs, LeBron James and James Harden, who top our rankings of best available players.

There has already been some action well before the free agency start, as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu plans to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return. Also returning to their teams are Washington Wizards guard Trae Young, who agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who is set to ink a four-year, $185 million extension, the largest contract in NBA history for an undrafted player. — Scooby Axson

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA free agency live updates: Latest rumors, signings, news on top players

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.

Celtics trade talks, Nikola Jokic, Jalen Duren, Tyler Herro, and more intel on @hoopshype. https://t.co/Pn1it4v1uc

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 28, 2026

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.

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.

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.

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.

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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 11^th 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.

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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.

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.

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.”

Sixers exercise team options for Barlow and Terry originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers on Monday exercised the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia. 

The Athletic’s Tony Jones first reported the news. 

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 Sixers signed Terry to a two-way deal in February and converted him to a standard NBA contract in April.

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.

Sixers exercise team options for Barlow and Terry originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers on Friday exercised the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia. 

The Athletic’s Tony Jones first reported the news. 

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 Sixers signed Terry to a two-way deal in February and converted him to a standard NBA contract in April.

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.

Cameron Boozer and his fellow rookie teammates, Karim Lopez and Richie Saunders, have been introduced to fans by the Memphis Grizzlies, and Boozer, at least, seems to have gone over well.

The team clearly plans to build around him, and that could mean a tricky transition between the Grizzlies being Ja Morant’s team and Boozer’s.

It’s no secret that Memphis would like to move Morant, who has derailed his career with stupid acts, generally involving guns, or defying what the franchise or his coach wants him to do.

To be clear, he’s not interested in staying with Memphis either, but between his behavior, injuries, and declining performance, there’s just not much of a market for his services right now.

This site suggests trades might be possible with Boston, Miami, and Chicago.

Brad Stevens (Boston) and Pat Riley (Miami) have been around long enough to have clearly defined cultures, and both have already had talented players who had serious issues fitting in. For Stevens, it was Kyrie Irving; for Riley, Jimmy Butler. Both were expensive lessons, and we can’t imagine either wanting to try that again.

Chicago?

Maybe.

Unless and until it happens, it’s going to be difficult for Morant to watch the offense and attention shift to Boozer, who, while still just 18 (he turns 19 on July 18) is already more mature than his older teammate. That dynamic is going to be tough to handle.

In a small bit of other rookie news, Maliq Brown and Isaiah Evans have picked their new numbers. Brown will wear #15, while Evans has taken #33, perhaps to remind him that he lingered in the draft until that point, and now plans to use it as motivation.

• Cameron Boozer is best reason Richie Saunders thrives with Grizzlies
• Duke’s Cameron Boozer Still Named Biggest Steal of NBA Draft
• Grizzlies introduce Cameron Boozer, Karim López and Richie Saunders
• These 3 Ja Morant trades can help the Grizzlies start over with Cam Boozer
• Grizzlies’ top free agent target after drafting Cameron Boozer, trading for Isaiah Stewart
• Cam Boozer Opens as NBA Rookie of the Year Favorite Over Dybantsa, Peterson
• Duke’s Isaiah Evans and Maliq Brown choose new NBA jersey numbers
• Isaiah Evans reveals what Timberwolves teammate he wants to learn from
• What Duke basketball’s Maliq Brown brings to San Antonio Spurs
• Duke’s Maliq Brown a defensive stash for San Antonio Spurs

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The NBA offseason is already off to a fast start. The draft has come and gone, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to the Miami Heat, and the Charlotte Hornets sent LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a stunning move. It feels like the fireworks are just getting started as the league transitions to free agency, which unofficially opens June 30 at 6 p.m. ET with the start of the negotiation moratorium.

This is not the best class of free agents. The top unrestricted free agent still available is … Norman Powell? Tobias Harris? Soon-to-be 42-year-old LeBron James? The pickings are slim when it comes to elite talents, but every year has a few under-the-radar free agents who end up making a difference in the playoff chase.

The restricted free agent crop is filled with considerably more talent, though their incumbent teams will have the right to match any offer. Want to pry Jalen Duren out of Detroit or Walker Kessler from Utah? It’s going to take a fat bag of cash and potentially some good assets out the door in a sign-and-trade.

Here’s our ranking of the top-69 NBA free agents in 2026. Why 69? That’s just where my long list of names fell, and also I thought it was funny. More analysis after the table.

Let’s get into some of the biggest topics of free agency.

Number	Player	Position	Previous team	Type
1	Jalen Duren	C	Detroit Pistons	RFA
2	LeBron James	F	Los Angeles Lakers	Player Option
3	James Harden	G	Cleveland Cavaliers	Player Option
4	Walker Kessler	C	Utah Jazz	RFA
5	Norman Powell	G	Miami Heat	UFA
6	Tari Eason	F	Houston Rockets	RFA
7	Kristaps Porzingis	C	Golden State Warriors	UFA
8	Tobias Harris	F	Detroit Pistons	UFA
9	Mitchell Robinson	C	New York Knicks	UFA
10	Lu Dort	G	Oklahoma City Thunder	Team Option
11	Bennedict Mathurin	G	Los Angeles Clippers	RFA
12	Peyton Watson	F	Denver Nuggets	RFA
13	Andrew Wiggins	F	Miami Heat	Player Option
14	Fred VanVleet	G	Houston Rockets	Player Option
15	Robert Williams	C	Portland Trail Blazers	UFA
16	Anfernee Simons	G	Chicago Bulls	UFA
17	Sandro Mamukelashvili	C	Toronto Raptors	UFA
18	Rui Hachimura	F	Los Angeles Lakers	UFA
19	Landry Shamet	G	New York Knicks	UFA
20	Gary Payton II	G	Golden State Warriors	UFA
21	Jonathan Kuminga	F	Atlanta Hawks	Team Option
22	John Collins	F	Los Angeles Clippers	UFA
23	Collin Sexton	G	Chicago Bulls	UFA
24	Mo Wagner	C	Orlando Magic	UFA
25	Brandon Williams	G	Dallas Mavericks	UFA
26	Bones Hyland	G	Minnesota Timberwolves	UFA
27	Quentin Grimes	G	Philadelphia 76ers	UFA
28	Marcus Smart	G	Los Angeles Lakers	Team Option
29	De’Anthony Melton	G	Golden State Warriors	Player Option
30	Jonathan Isaac	F	Orlando Magic	UFA
31	Marvin Bagley III	F	Dallas Mavericks	UFA
32	Josh Minott	F	Brooklyn Nets	Team Option
33	Jock Landale	C	Atlanta Hawks	UFA
34	Keon Ellis	G	Cleveland Cavaliers	UFA
35	Deandre Ayton	C	Los Angeles Lakers	Player Option
36	Kevin Huerter	G	Detroit Pistons	UFA
37	Dean Wade	F	Cleveland Cavaliers	UFA
38	Javonte Green	F	Detroit Pistons	UFA
39	Bruce Brown	G	Denver Nuggets	UFA
40	Russell Westbrook	G	Sacramento Kings	UFA
41	Kevon Looney	C	New Orleans Pelicans	Team Option
42	Jusuf Nurkic	C	Utah Jazz	UFA
43	Tim Hardaway Jr.	G	Denver Nuggets	UFA
44	Luke Kennard	G	Los Angeles Lakers	UFA
45	Gary Trent Jr.	G	Milwaukee Bucks	UFA
46	Zach Collins	C	Chicago Bulls	UFA
47	Quentin Post	C	Golden State Warriors	RFA
48	Simone Fontecchio	F	Miami Heat	UFA
49	Kenrich Williams	F	Oklahoma City Thunder	Team Option
50	Precious Achiuwa	C/F	Sacramento Kings	UFA
51	Ziaire Williams	F	Brooklyn Nets	Team Option
52	Khris Middleton	F	Dallas Mavericks	UFA
53	Harrison Barnes	F	San Antonio Spurs	UFA
54	Josh Okogie	G	Houston Rockets	UFA
55	Moussa Cissé	C	Dallas Mavericks	RFA
56	Bradley Beal	G	Los Angeles Clippers	Player Option
57	Andre Drummond	C	Philadelphia 76ers	UFA
58	Kellly Oubre	F	Philadelphia 76ers	UFA
59	Nikola Vucevic	C	Boston Celtics	UFA
60	Taurean Prince	F	Milwaukee Bucks	Player Option
61	Ousmane Dieng	F	Milwaukee Bucks	RFA
62	Spencer Jones	F	Denver Nuggets	RFA
63	Jamaree Bouyea	G	Phoenix Suns	Team Option
64	Mike Conley Jr.	G	Minnesota Timberwolves	UFA
65	Jevon Carter	G	Orlando Magic	UFA
66	Guerschon Yabusele	F/C	Chicago Bulls	UFA
67	Dalano Banton	F	Boston Celtics	Team Option
68	Jeremy Sochan	F	New York Knicks	UFA
69	Cam Thomas	G	Milwaukee Bucks	UFA

Can anyone pry Jalen Duren out of Detroit?

Jalen Duren earned Third-Team All-NBA honors for the Pistons this past season at age-22. Duren’s incredible leap was unfortunately overshadowed by a rough playoff performance that exposed some holes in his game. After averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 68.8 percent true shooting in 70 regular season games, Duren’s averages fell to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 55.3 percent true shooting in 14 playoff games. Duren is still an elite driver, interior scorer, and rebounder for a big man, but he’s not exactly a defensive anchor, and he also has little shooting range.

Duren reportedly wants $40 million per season on his next contract, but the Pistons are trying to get him back on the lowest number they can. Detroit holds the all chips here because he’s a restricted free agent, meaning the Pistons have the right to match any offer to him.

There’s not a team in the league that has $40 million in cap space to offer him a deal right now. A sign-and-trade is still a possibility, but base year compensation rules will likely make that more complicated than it seems. My guess is Duren goes back to Detroit for something like $34 million per season, which both sides can claim as a win. Still, it’s always possible that Duren comes away with hurt feelings during the negotiations, and that opens the door for someone else to make a push for the league’s best young bigs.

Where will LeBron land?

LeBron James is trying to win the GOAT argument on longevity, and he was still probably a top-50 or top-60 player in the league last season at age-41. Absolutely ridiculous. Even if his play continues to fall again for next season, LeBron is still an impactful player in a right role who could have a strong positive influence on a playoff run.

Right now, it feels like there are three real suitors for LeBron. Here’s how I would rank them:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Golden State Warriors

Do the Lakers even want LeBron back? They haven’t offered him a contract thus far, and there has reportedly been very little communication between the two sides. I’ve been predicting a LeBron-to-Cleveland reunion for his retirement tour all year, but that would either require him taking a huge pay cut, or the Cavs being willing to trade Jarrett Allen for him. The Warriors are looming as another possible option to team up James and Steph Curry. My wildcard is the New York Knicks, because that would just be fun.

I still think LeBron ends up in Cleveland based on nothing but gut feeling. I also think this could linger pretty far into the offseason.

Who do you want your team to sign?

Let us know in the comments. I’ll also answer any questions you have about free agency, trades, these rankings, or anything else.