LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Five on April 29, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Of the many Lakers’ internal free agents, perhaps the one most likely to find a new home next season is Rui Hachimura.
While Rui has had a handful of successful seasons in Los Angeles, his fit with the team is less than ideal as it stands and he could be the odd man out for the Lakers depending on how free agency plays out.. And if he does hit the open market, then there are going to be many teams lining up for one of the best shooters in the league.
On Saturday, NBA beat writer Jake Fischer reported that the Nets and Spurs are among the teams interested in Rui in free agency.
Brooklyn keeps coming up as a likely suitor, too, for the Lakers’ Rui Hachimura, league sources say. The Nets and Spurs are two teams we’ve heard have interest in adding Hachimura’s services, while the Spurs are also faced with resolving Harrison Barnes’ future as the veteran forward heads toward unrestricted free agency.
Unfortunately, Rui might cook in San Antonio. The Spurs have plenty of talented guards but lacked the same depth on the wing. Rui could even potentially step into the starting lineup and have a big man in Victor Wembanyama who can help mask some of his deficiencies.
Even if Lakers fans are open to moving on from Rui, it’d hurt to see him go to San Antonio. That’s quite the same in Brooklyn.
It’s really anyone’s guess what the Nets are doing in terms of roster-building. It’s hard to imagine any notable player going there for any reason other than living in New York and/or getting a big contract.
But Brooklyn does have the cap space to offer that big deal. They’ll likely be used as leverage throughout the summer, something Lakers fans are certainly used to, even if they aren’t always serious bidders.
Nevertheless, this shows that, probably unsurprisingly, Rui will have suitors this summer. He did speak about loving his time in Los Angeles. And there have been reports that most expect him to return to the Lakers. But it looks like there’s going to be competition to bring him back, if the front office does indeed go that route.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is introduced before the game against the New York Knicks during Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the official start of NBA free agency rapidly approaching, we’re quickly going to see more buzz of who the Sixers could look to sign. Now, we can add Dean Wade to the mix.
Right away, the Sixers now have a connection to Wade with the time Mike Gansey spent in the Cavaliers’ front office. In his first media availability session after joining the Sixers, Gansey even mentioned Wade when talking about finding diamonds in the rough for the Cavs. Gansey’s familiarity and respect for Wade’s skillset could spark more interest in reuniting with him again through free agency this summer, but Wade likely won’t come cheap.
The 6-foot-9 forward has spent the first seven years of his career with the Cavs, becoming a staple in their rotation since his second year. In 2025-26 in 22.3 minutes per game, he averaged 5.8 points (58.0 percent true shooting and 36.2 percent from three), 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks. He’s hardly a game-changer on offense, with little to offer on the ball and his fairly low aggression/shot volume can be a hindrance. However, he is reliable when it comes to making sharp extra passes and keeping the ball moving. He’s still a decent shooter as well with a 36.7 percent three-point stroke on 3.3 attempts per game (5.9 attempts per 36 minutes) over the last six seasons.
Wade shines at the other end of the floor, though, as a rock-solid defender. He has great size and length to handle tough forward assignments, pretty good lateral quickness and agility to shift around the perimeter and cover his fair share of guards, and solid rebounding. Wade’s versatility and size at that end of the floor is clearly something the Sixers could use more of.
But again, all that may come at a price that exceeds the Sixers’ budget. Or at least what they can spend without losing out on other talent.
The Sixers do have the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NTMLE) at their disposal this summer, but using it would hard cap them at the first apron for the rest of 2026-27 (as our Bryan Toporek laid out so well here). At that point, using the NTMLE will likely lose the team Kelly Oubre Jr. and/or Quentin Grimes. And even if you’re ready to see Grimes and all his flaws go, Oubre has clearly proven plenty of value to this team.
If Wade costs over $10 million or the full NTMLE, then that may not be a price the Sixers can rise to. And as good as Wade would be in strengthening the Sixers’ forward rotation, it’s hard to see him as that valuable for Philly. Especially if signing Wade costs the team Oubre.
Nevertheless, it’ll be intriguing to see what further reports we see about interest in Wade from the Sixers and other teams as we get into free agency, and what kind of contract he could command.
Mar 7, 2026; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle (32) looks to pass the ball around Washington Huskies guard Quimari Peterson (0) during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
What’s up y’all? The NBA draft has come and gone, and unfortunately (but not necessarily unsurprisingly) Nate Bittle was not drafted. He did, however, sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors, which is an invitation to Summer League and potentially to training camp in the fall. But it got me thinking, how do y’all think Bittle will fare in his career? Do you think he’ll stick in the NBA? Maybe as a G-League player? Or possibly play overseas? Let me know below!
Lendeborg hilariously found out where his locker is: next to future Hall of Famer Steph Curry.
Former Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg found out his Warriors locker is next to Steph Curry’s. Anadolu via Getty Images
During Lendeborg’s introductory news conference with the Warriors this week, he joked about how he grew up hating Curry because the rookie was a big Kyrie Irving fan.
When Lendeborg was shown his locker, he immediately burst into laughter and said, “Did y’all do this on purpose right here?”
Immediately after he questioned his locker location, Lendeborg approached his locker filled with joy because he will be next to one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
Filled with emotions, Lendeborg was told by someone in the group made up of Warriors officials and friends and family members of his and second-round pick Lajae Jones, “They say if you sit close to someone, their shooting skills will rub off on you.” To which Lendeborg jokingly replied and said, “I need that. I definitely need that.”
Lendeborg grew up cheering for Kyrie Irving and didn’t root for Warriors legend Steph Curry (above). FilmMagic
Regardless of how Lendeborg felt about Curry and the Warriors before, that all seems to be in the past. The young rookie was thrilled to see his locker, with his jersey hanging inside for the first time. He asked if he was allowed to hold it.
Standing in front of his locker with his jersey in his hands for the first time, Lendeborg was emotional and admitted he was about to cry again.
When Jones saw his locker for the first time, he was also in disbelief, as the two young stars realized their dreams were now reality.
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 20: The sneakers worn by Taylor Hendricks #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 20, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Grant Burke/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers is introduced before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Four on May 11, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Much of the discussion about the Lakers’ upcoming offseason has been about acquiring a center of the future. It was the edict from Luka Dončić before he left for Europe this summer and it’s one of the top priorities of the front office.
The underlying aspect of that is the Lakers very well may still have last year’s starting center on the roster at the start of free agency. Deandre Ayton had a very up-and-down season with the Lakers, at times looking great but also proving not to be a reliable option every night, hence the search for a top starter.
However, Ayton has a player option for next season, taking the decision out of the Lakers’ hands. While Ayton may know that LA is trying to move on from him, it’s still $8.1 million he’d be guaranteed next season by opting in.
So, while there are merits to him opting out and searching for a team that wants him, it seems more likely he will take that guaranteed money, leaving the Lakers with a bit of a conundrum this summer. On a recent episode of NBA Today, Dave McMenamin of ESPN laid out the scenario for the Lakers and Ayton.
“We don’t know if Deandre Ayton is going to opt in to his deal and if he does, if the feedback is get me an A-list center and Ayton was already on the team last year, if he opts in, that means Rob Pelinka needs to find a trade partner for Ayton.”
While Ayton struggled as the starting center for the Lakers last year, he still was a viable NBA player with value. And at $8 million, he may even be on a contract that is good value relative to his production as well.
It’s just that he’s not a good fit with the Lakers. He’s still, at worst, a valuable backup big man who can play for a contending team. It won’t be hard to trade him, but it’ll likely be a necessity.
It’s not difficult to find a way to spin this into a positive. He’s on a non-negative contract and the Lakers could potentially take back more in salary than they send out. If LA can find the right team and right situation, they could acquire a player who better fits around Luka and Austin Reaves.
But it does look like, for all intents and purposes, the Ayton era in LA will be one-and-done.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks pose for a photo with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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
How incredible is it that an article like this can be written seriously after what we went through the last 20 years?
It’s been a few weeks since the Knicks lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy and put themselves into the history books. With the NBA Draft now behind us and a brief lull before the start of free agency on Tuesday night, the only sensical thing to do is to bask in the glory of being champions before the cold reality of the second apron sets in.
A topic of discussion in a few of my circles during the NBA Finals was about those banners hanging up in the rafters of the World’s Most Famous Arena.
No, not Billy Joel, Mark Messier, or the championship banners. These babies.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 15: The New York Knicks retired number banners hang above the court during the 64th NBA All-Star Game presented by Kia as part of the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2015 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Only seven numbers are out of circulation for the Knicks, with nine total players/coaches honored in the rafters.
Of those nine, only two are ringless. Dick McGuire played in the 1950s, where he made seven all-star teams and appeared in three NBA Finals, but even his number retirement is shared with Earl the Pearl. The only other player in the long history of the Knicks to retire ringless and get his name in the rafters is Patrick Ewing, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
There’s an existing debate to put Carmelo Anthony’s No. 7 in the rafters after he existed as the team’s only mainstream star between the Ewing and Brunson eras, but it feels like it would’ve happened by now. Melo’s number still hasn’t been worn since he left in 2017. No other number lower than 27 has been out of circulation longer.
Even if the Knicks never won a championship, you could probably add at least one name to the rafters when their careers are over. But now that they’ve joined the elite club of champions, suddenly half the roster is in contention to get their numbers retired.
Remember, those 1970 and 1973 teams got six players in the rafters. The entire starting lineups of both championship teams are up there. Only Earl Monroe wasn’t on both teams. That distinction probably means we aren’t putting six in the rafters this time, but there will be retirement ceremonies in the future.
But for whom?
Start Making The Banners
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 18: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jalen Brunson #11 look on during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jalen Brunson
The only person who might’ve objected to this was Becky Hammon, but she seems to have finally admitted she was wrong about the Knicks’ captain.
There are few things to say about Jalen Brunson that haven’t been said on this site, on every other site, and what will be said about him when the NBA Champions series we’re doing gets to him. He is, quite simply, the best thing to ever happen to this franchise.
Whether he’s the greatest Knick of all time is open to interpretation, but the circumstances that led to his arrival and superstardom surpass anything in history. The way he revived one of the NBA’s most iconic organizations from the doldrums will go down forever. Even if he never won a championship here, he would deserve this honor.
If the team wanted to retire his number on Opening Night while presenting him with his ring, that would be a perfectly acceptable reaction.
Karl-Anthony Towns
This was honestly the biggest debate before the chip was closed out. Could Towns do enough, without a championship, to ensure 32 is never worn again?
The legacy of Renaldo Balkman, Jimmer Fredette, and Noah Vonleh is a tough one to overshadow…
In all seriousness, it was probably 50/50 whether a half-decade of all-star play and perennial contention could get Towns in the rafters, but now there’s no question.
An All-NBA-caliber running mate for Brunson that ended a 53-year drought. A Piscataway native who grew up a Knicks fan. As New York as any player not named Jose Alvarado. What he did against Victor Wembanyama in the first two games will be replayed forever.
There’s a good chance that 32 is never worn again in Minnesota, either, which could make Towns part of an elite fraternity of players to have their numbers retired by multiple teams. Regardless of how the remainder of his Knicks career goes, or how long it is, he’s a legend who helped end a 53-year drought as the second option. It’s a slam dunk.
Under Consideration
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 21: OG Anunoby #8 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks look on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
OG Anunoby
This is something I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted when Anunoby became a Knick on December 30, 2023. A guy who may never make an all-star team, who probably won’t win a Defensive Player of the Year award, or ever be a top option might have his number retired by an iconic franchise.
Anunoby’s 2026 playoff run was one for the ages. Aside from missing two games due to a hamstring injury and a slow start to the Cavs series as a result, he was arguably the team’s most consistent player and overall MVP due to his incredible defense. His sequence in the final 20 seconds of Game 4 of the NBA Finals might be the most impactful sequence in team history.
The difficult thing to do is compare him to someone on the 1970/73 teams. If the all-stars-to-roster-spots ratio was the way it was back then, Anunoby would be an all-star, so comparing legacies in that fashion would be improper. It’s objectively a lot harder to get to that point today.
If I had to guess, OG will be here for long enough that he will be remembered in such a fond way that he gets his number retired. If not, nobody will wear 8 for a while as an informal retirement, similar to Melo.
Josh Hart*
It’s pretty bold to put a player like Hart up here with Anunoby, whose case to be enshrined among the greats is in him effectively swinging the entire NBA Finals by himself at the end of Game 4, but there’s a case to be made that Hart could get to this point, while also adding an asterisk to make it more likely.
Hart will forever go down as the heart of this championship team. It’s been spoken about ad nauseum, but the 6’4″ wing is possibly the best hustle player of this generation, a connector, a positive presence in the locker room, and a flat-out winning player. His impact matters every postseason, regardless of how fans can turn on him due to clunky regular season performances or lineups.
Will that be enough to get him in the rafters with another few years on the team? I’m leaning no, but I offer a addendum.
What if we take a page out of Dick McGuire and Earl Monroe’s book and double-retire No. 3? Not many fans would object to honoring John Starks’ contributions to the franchise, even if he alone didn’t merit a number retirement. If only Game 7 went differently…
Would Take Another Title
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks smiles before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mikal Bridges
Imagine hearing “F— Them Picks” chants while 25 is raised to the rafters?
Probably won’t happen, but a man can dream.
Bridges is firmly in the territory of needing a 1973 to happen to join the pantheon. It’s nothing against him; it’s just really hard to get your number removed from circulation. He was a major part of this postseason run on both ends of the floor and was Leon Rose’s biggest and boldest gamble, one that will go down in Knicks lore forever.
Individual excellence would be the other path, but I don’t see him getting there. He’s going to be the fourth option going forward, so while I can see a path to OG Anunoby becoming an all-star or making a run at Defensive Player of the Year (if Wemby is ever ineligible again), I don’t see that for Bridges.
Longshot
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 12: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks talks to media during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 12, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mitchell Robinson
I think, if anything, this would be a sentimental, unofficial retirement.
Robinson’s story is a great one, as he’s the only person involved in the organization beneath James Dolan who was around for the darkness that was the pre-COVID Knicks. He’s lived through so many ups and downs, and I’m overjoyed he’s here to enjoy this.
But will he be here much longer? That probably stops the conversation here. It would be a miracle if he were back in this organization next year with the team’s self-inflicted second-apron hard cap. If he managed to take a pay cut and remain with the Knicks for another few years, maybe he could get to the point where No. 23 isn’t worn again for a good while, similar to Melo’s.
Ron Harper Jr. is a real Boston success story from last season. He was signed to an Exhibit 10 (training camp contract) before camp last year, but by the end of camp, the team had turned that into a two-way contract. As the season moved past the All-Star break, Harper became a regular part of the Celtics' rotation. In April, Boston converted him to a standard NBA contract.
Now the Celtics have declined Harper's $2.6 million team option for next season to re-sign him to a three-year, $9 million contract, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.
After the All-Star game last season, Harper averaged 11 minutes a night, scoring 5.1 points per game.
Harper is entering his fifth NBA season, but the first one with a guaranteed deal. He was on two-way contracts with Toronto and Detroit before he came to Boston.
Harper is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and the older brother of Spurs guard Dylan Harper.
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets the twenty eighth pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson after he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Last June, the Brooklyn Nets traded Cam Johnson, a player earning a little more $20 million to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and a future first round pick, the Nuggets unprotected first in 2032. It was a salary dump and Denver seemed tired of MPJ. The cost to the Nets for salary cap purposes: $17 million.
This June, the Brooklyn Nets traded Nic Claxton, player earning a little more than $20 million to the Chicago Bulls in a three team deal for Julius Randle and a swap of future first round picks that yielded them the Timberwolves’ unprotected first in 2026. It was a salary dump and Minnesota seemed tired of Randle. The cost to the Nets for salary cap purposed: $17 million.
You have to hope at the Nets do as well in last week’s trade as they did in last year’s. Like last year, the big piece is a 20-point scorer who’s in the prime of his career. Unlike last year, they won’t have to wait years to see how the pick worked out. Brooklyn took Joshua Jefferson, a 6’9″ point senior forward out of Iowa State at No 28.
As our Lucas Kaplan noted in story his about the pick, “though his stock dropped toward the end of the season, there had been often lottery buzz surrounding him” earlier in the season. His stock dropped in part because he’s older, turning 23 a month into the season, and he was coming off a left ankle sprain that cut short his NCAA Tournament. So upside was the issue. On the other hand, Jefferson is a big — 246 pounds at the NBA Combine — point forward, ideal for Jordi Fernandez’s offense and the Nets overall strategy of choosing quick decision-makers.
“The way Josh plays with the ball, the DHOs, the reads, the passing ability,” Sean Marks said in his post-draft Zoom call with reporters. “That’s absolutely going to fit within Jordi’s system and Jordi’s style and how he wants to play.”
Jefferson said after being drafted and an impromptu trip to get a handshake from Adam Silver that he appreciates his good luck in getting selected by Brooklyn, as Brian Lewis reported.
“It was really good feedback, from the late first round, from all the front office, just seeing what they need for their team,” Jefferson said. “They felt that I fit in a lot of spots because of my versatility. I’m where I need to be. The Nets took a great chance on me, and I’m very thankful for that.”
In a way the Nets took a chance on him like they took a chance on Mike Brown at No. 6. He too missed time with a back injury.
“When that injury happened, I feel like a lot of things [were] jeopardized from that. Going into pre-draft, I was like, make the most out of your workouts and attack your rehab hard and everything will go how it needs to go, Very blessed for this position that I’m in and just very thankful.”
Marks said there was a connection between trading for Randle, then drafting similar sized forward even if their skillsets are different. Jefferson will be backing up both forwards.
“It absolutely was,” Marks said. “Josh was a guy that we have absolutely been all over all year long and watched how he played the game, his skill set. That definitely translates.
“High IQ, and when you watch him play — when Iowa State plays through him, his teammates feed off of him — he’s definitely a facilitator out there. The toughness that he has. So there were a lot of intangibles. And then he’s a winner, an absolute flat-out winner. There’s an edge to how he plays and a toughness, which we loved.”
Moreover, Jefferson brings something that the Nets have been missing for a long while: physicality, something Randle will also help with in the starting lineup.
“The thing about my game that’s going to translate pretty quickly is my physicality. The NBA is a physical game right now. You have to be physical in the playoffs to win, and that’s what I’m going to bring,” Jefferson said. “Then just continue to work on my shot. Shooting it really well throughout this pre-draft process, a lot of reps. So if I continue to do that, it’s going to keep me on the floor. And defending.”
That probably more than anything will give Nets fans positive vibes.
He is, as you might expect, not a plus athlete. His max vertical was measured at 33.0 inches at the Combine and in fact all of his athletic measurements were around the 30th percentile of the 72 prospects on hand. He has been compared to Kyle Anderson, the similar sized point forward who’s had a long NBA career playing the same game. The Nets should be so lucky.
The firehose of NBA rumors is wide open and coming fast — as are the trades and signings. Here is some of the latest talk around the league.
Boston talking to teams about Brown
Whether Boston will trade Jaylen Brown or hang on to him and chase another ring with a retooled roster around him and Jayson Tatum remains to be seen. What we do know is that Boston is at least having conversations with teams about Brown, according to multiple reports.
What fans also understand is what a lot of teams around the league believe as well: After so publicly dangling him in a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the relationship is fractured and bringing him back is, at best, awkward.
There are a lot of Brown rumors flying around:
• The Celtics ultimately believe they don't have to make a deal, that they can repair any damage to their relationship with the All-NBA wing coming off his best season (where he finished sixth in MVP voting). With that, they feel they have leverage and are keeping the asking price high when they do talk Brown trade, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania, who said on “Get Up”, "In some cases, the Celtics have asked for at least four first-round picks for Jaylen Brown."
• Portland remains aggressive in going after Brown, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. New Portland owner Tom Dundon wants to make a splash and has his front office being aggressive in going after a big star. Brown is the kind they need to chase because he has three years left on his current contract, so this is not a potential rental. Whether Boston is interested in Portland's offer is a different question.
• Cleveland wouldn't trade Evan Mobley for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but would they feel differently about Jaylen Brown? It's a question being asked around the league, but the Cavaliers don't seem into the idea. At least not yet.
• Houston has not been active in going after Brown, reports The Stein Line.
Lakers may offer Mitchell Robinson
It's no secret the Lakers are looking to upgrade at center (it should be noted Deandre Ayton is expected to pick up his player option and be back with the team). Mitchell Robinson is the kind of big man they could use, but his health concerns — particularly his chronic ankle issues — will give the Lakers and every team some pause.
The Lakers may offer Robinson a "long-term" deal at around the mid-level exception of $15.1 million, reports Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. That's a fair price, if Robinson is looking to come West. Brooklyn reportedly also has interest (although agents use the Nets as a "boogie man" in every rumor they leak because the Nets have cap space, so take some of those with a grain of salt).
The Lakers also have been linked to Dallas center Daniel Gafford, and after the Mavericks drafted Morez Johnson Jr. in the lottery this week, Gafford may be more available, Siegel of ClutchPoints reports.
Robinson may be the odd man out in New York as Knicks owner James Dolan says he does not want to venture into the second apron of the luxury tax. New York would need to get Robinson to take a significant pay cut to return and keep them out of the second apron, and that's not happening. Robinson made almost $13 million last season and showed his value in the playoffs; he's going to be expecting a raise, and it seems at least one team (and likely more) is willing to do just that.
Cavs open to Max Strus trade?
Cleveland is another team looking largely to run it back (with a tweak or two), but they are also battling the second apron. The solution might be to trade Max Strus, a solid two-way wing player, something Brian Windhorst discussed on ESPN Cleveland radio.
"I would keep an eye on Max Strus. Dean Wade is going to be expensive, I think more expensive than the Cavs were hoping. I think Keon Ellis could be gone unless they lose Dean Wade. If they lose Dean Wade, I think they re-engineer the concept of Keon Ellis.
"Max Strus is extension eligible, has one year at $19 million left on his contract. I want to see if the Cavs are extending Max Strus or if they have to trade Max Strus. And the reason you would trade Max Strus is so that you could potentially afford to keep Dean Wade."
If the Cavaliers trade Strus, it would have to be to a team that can absorb him into cap space or has a trade exception big enough to take on his $16.7 million contract. Cleveland is not going to want to take back salary in this deal.
Health is another concern for any interested teams. Strus played in just 12 games last season due to a bone fracture and foot surgery, and 50 games the season before. During the postseason, especially against Detroit and New York, Strus showed his two-way wing potential in playoff series against the Pistons and Knicks.
Other trade rumors
• Kevon Looney about to be free agent. New Orleans is not going to pick up the team option on veteran center Kevon Looney, and he will be a free agent, reports Chris Haynes and others. Looney won three rings with the Golden State Warriors but played just 21 games last season with the Pelicans and seemed to take a step back from his Warriors days. If healthy, he could be a solid backup big for a team.
• John Collins interest. Both the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs are interested in Collins, reports ClutchPoints Siegel. Collins is a solid veteran big man who averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game last season with the Clippers. Collins is a free agent and made $26.6 million last season, that per-year number likely comes down a little with this next deal wherever it is.
• Dorian Finney-Smith available. The Rockets continue to explore trade possibilities around veteran wing Dorian Finney-Smith, reports Stein and Fischer. How big the market is for him coming off a down season in Houston remains to be seen. He is set to make $13.3 million next season, and while there are two years after that on his contract, neither is fully guaranteed.
• Myles Turner interest. In the wake of the Giannis Antetokounmpo teams have called Milwaukee about Turner, a stretch five, but Milwaukee isn't actively looking to trade him, according to Stein.
• Chicago picked up its $2.4 million team option for Leonard Miller. Which was expected, he averaged 11.7 points per game with Chicago after being traded from Minnesota at the deadline and getting a chance he did not see with the Timberwolves.
• Lonnie Walker IV is looking to make a return to the NBA after playing last season for Maccabi Tel Aviv, reports Stein.
Immediately after the Warriors selected former Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th pick in the NBA draft, he showed he might need some additional public relations training after a couple of honest interviews.
Over the past week, Lendeborg has met with the media and did not mince words when talking about how he used to feel about Steph Curry and playing for Steve Kerr, who traditionally doesn’t play rookies.
During his introductory news conference Tuesday, Lendeborg admitted he grew up hating watching Curry because he was a big fan of former Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving.
Yaxel Lendeborg on playing with Stephen Curry:
"It's a full-circle moment for me. In 2016, I'm a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry." pic.twitter.com/Gjir5ZIC1P
“It’s a full-circle moment for me. I’ve been saying this every time I get asked this question. In 2016, I’m a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry,” Lendeborg said. “So now that I’m actually going to be on the same team as him, play and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot.”
“I’ve met him a couple of times; he’s a very great guy, genuine person, and it’s going to be an honor to watch him do what he does in person. I’m very excited.”
There’s no problem in admitting you were a fan of another team while growing up, so it makes sense why Lendeborg might’ve had a particular feeling about Curry and the Warriors as they met Irving and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals for three consecutive seasons from 2015-2017. Irving was on the losing side of the series twice in 2015 and 2017.
Former Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg hopes to have a big role in his first season with the Warriors. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But when Lendeborg was asked about conversations he had with Kerr, he didn’t hold back from admitting that Kerr doesn’t necessarily like to play rookies and admitted that his new coach’s hand might be forced to play him because the Warriors are simply not a good team now.
“He doesn’t normally play rookies as much; he has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start,” Lendeborg said Friday when meeting with the media. “Just having that kind of hope gives me extra motivation.”
Yaxel Lendeborg on his early conversations with Steve Kerr: “He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start.” pic.twitter.com/Vm1DXhkjUO
To Lendeborg’s credit, the Warriors aren’t the well-oiled machine that used to dominate the NBA from 2014 to 2022.
Since they won their last NBA title during the 2021-2022 season, Golden State has consistently placed in the bottom part of the Western Conference and recently had its first losing season since 2019-2020, when they finished 15-50, the same season in which they were without Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
Lendeborg went on to praise Kerr for the great job he has done since he became the head coach of the team in May 2014.
“I know he’s a Hall of Fame coach, he’s played under a Hall of Fame coach as well, he’s learned so much, he played with one of the best players [Michael Jordan] of all time as well,” Lendeborg said. “He just knows so much of the game, so I feel like the impression I just wanna leave on him is someone who’s willing to learn, someone who’s going to value his core values and play values.”
“So, I mean, just do the best I can to get under his good side as easy or as quick as possible, to see if I get some extra playing time from it”
Yaxel Lendeborg has jokes as he discusses what it means to him to play for Steve Kerr. pic.twitter.com/tkQjWFyGn6
The Knicks have fired off a “cease and desist” letter to America-hating state Senate candidate Aber Kawas, threatening to slap her with a lawsuit for ripping a page out of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s playbook and using the NBA champs’ iconic logo to boost her campaign, The Post has learned.
Kawas – a Mamdani-backed, Democratic Socialist of America member who once described 9/11 as a terror attack that a “couple of people did” – tried to win over voters by using a doctored version of the Knicks logo on social media posts and campaign stickers throughout her primary run, which ended with her clinching the Democratic nomination for a Queens state Senate seat on Tuesday.
Bryan N. Warner, senior vice president and head of legal for Madison Square Garden Sports, sent the letter to Kawas’ campaign Friday night “demand[ing]” it “immediately remove all promotional materials incorporating Knicks Intellectual Property, including but not limited to the unauthorized Advertisements, and cease any further use of Knicks Intellectual Property.”
“I Voted for Aber Kawas” stickers feature the same font, orange-and-blue colors, and basketball as the Knicks logo. Instagram/Aber Kawas
“Neither the Knicks nor NBA [Properties] have authorized the Campaign to use Knicks Intellectual Property in any way, including the Unauthorized Advertisements, which are likely to mislead the public into believing that the Campaign is affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by, or in some way connected with the Knicks,” he wrote in the letter exclusively obtained by The Post.
“The Campaign’s activities in this regard constitute, among other things, trademark infringement, trademark dilution, false advertising, false association, and unfair competition.”
It uses a logo with the slogan “I Voted for Aber Kawas” that features the same font, orange-and-blue colors, and iconic basketball as the Knicks logo — but replaces the team’s name with “Kawas.”
“Head to the polls to claim your “I Voted for Aber Kawas” champion sticker,” the post also says, while featuring a basketball emoji. “Earn bragging rights, make your friends jealous, and let everyone know that you’re part of our movement to fight for the world in the world’s borough.”
Mamdani tried to pull the same slick trick in October while campaigning for mayor, airing an ad during the team’s season opener that featured an altered logo replacing the word “Knicks” with “Zohran.”
Aber Kawas – a Mamdani-backed, Democratic Socialist of America member – tried to win over voters by using a version of the Knicks logo on social media posts and campaign stickers. Instagram/Aber Kawas
Mamdani pulled the ad after the team slammed him with a “cease and desist” letter and stressed it wasn’t making any endorsements in the race.
Billionaire Knicks and MSG owner James Dolan — a longtime friend of President Trump — got into a public feud earlier this month with the Mamdani administration over cancelled fan watch parties outside MSG during the NBA Finals due to city-imposed security measures.
The tension spilled over into awkward public exchanges by both sides during the team’s June 18 victory parade and City Hall ceremony honoring the Knicks, which Mamdani hosted and Dolan attended.
Bryan N. Warner, senior vice president and head of legal for Madison Square Garden Sports, wrote a letter to Kawas’ campaign, “demand[ing]” it “immediately remove all promotional materials incorporating Knicks Intellectual Property. Instagram/Zohran Mamdani
She has come under fire for incendiary comments about 9/11, which resurfaced on X last year after news of Mamdani’s reported support for her campaign came to light.
“The system of capitalism and racism and white supremacy et cetera — and Islamophobia — have all been used, you know, to colonize lands, to take resources from other people, and so this is a long trajectory and we are just seeing the manifestations of that continuation … with 9/11,” she said in an unearthed video segment posted by Australian political activist Drew Pavlou.
“The idea we have to apologize for like a terror attack that like a couple of people did and then there is no apology or reparations for genocides and for slavery, et cetera — is something I find reprehensible,” she added.
“Whether it is July 4th, Thanksgiving, Veterans, Columbus or now Labor Day, we enjoy days off that are supposed to be victories for people, when they truly represent the silencing & destruction of our movements,” the longtime Palestinian-American activist wrote in an online journal posted on Sept. 7, 2015 — Labor Day.
“Today I do not celebrate a day off, I only recommit myself to a global movement that fights against the death, displacement, and exploitation of people for capital.”
Kawas campaign did not immediately return messages.
A MSG rep said the letter speaks for itself and declined further comment.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: Ron Harper Jr. #13 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics have signed Ron Harper Jr. to a three-year, $9 million contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Saturday afternoon. It’s a win for both sides: Harper Jr. gets his first long-term NBA contract at 26 years old, fresh off the best season of his career.
And the Celtics get a hard-playing role player with plenty of upside on a financially savvy deal, someone who can stretch the floor, defend, and rebound at a high level.
It’s been a long journey for Ron Harper Jr. to get here
Ron Harper Jr. went undrafted in 2022 after a standout career at Rutgers. Since then, he’s bounced around the league, spending some time with the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.
Last year, he began the season with Boston on an Exhibit-1o, training camp contract, and ultimately secured one of the team’s three two-way contracts. Then, after excelling with the Maine Celtics, he began to spend more time with the parent club and ultimately signed a standard, rest-of-season contract with the Celtics in April.
But Harper’s tenure with Boston began before last year. He was on the Celtics Summer League team in 2024 and was on a training camp deal that fall. At that Summer League, he was coming off a season-ending shoulder injury but told reporters he was ready to play with toughness and grit.
“I’m a player that’s going to play hard, play the right way, play within himself,” he said then.
Asked Ron Harper Jr, who signed a training camp contract with the Celtics, what Celtics fans should know about what he brings:
“Toughness… a lot of grit… I’m a player that’s going to play hard, play the right way, play within himself.” pic.twitter.com/yZSTjjh2ao
In turn, began the 2024-2025 season with the Maine Celtics, before signing a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons. After that contract expired, he returned to Boston. This year, he’ll begin his third consecutive training camp in Boston – though for the very first time, he’ll have guaranteed money.
The former Rutgers standout averaged 11 minutes in 29 NBA games last year, getting three starts. He scored a career-high 27 points to go along with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in a win over the Orlando Magic in mid-April. But his breakthrough moment came before that, when he started his first-ever NBA game in Houston, guarded Rockets forward Kevin Durant, and scored a then-career-high 11 points.
“I feel like I know the system; the coverages are like the back of my hand,” Harper Jr. said after the game. “That was a big part of the process and the decision to be coming back in the summer — I just knew the team, I knew the coaches, I knew the system.”
The decision clearly paid off. Harper Jr. averaged 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds, shooting 41.8% from the field and 35% from three last year.
Now, he gets his first-ever guaranteed contract.
Ron Harper Jr. could be the first of several Celtics extensions
The Celtics will also have the ability to extend Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta this offseason, and Payton Pritchard in October. Jaylen Brown is also eligible for a two-year, $140 million extension in July, though his future in Boston remains uncertain after he was reportedly offered in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Ever since Knicks team owner James Dolan declared that the team cannot go into the second apron on WFAN’s Carton Show earlier in June, every move the club has made so far has hinted at going down that path.
This week’s NBA Draft saw the Knicks trade out of the first round -- and a guaranteed contract -- and step down to the second round, where they continued to move back.
Originally armed with the 24, 31 and 55 in the draft, New York ended up collecting a boatload of second-round picks in future drafts and selecting 39th and 47th overall, for players that will be on cheaper minimum deals or two-way contracts.
That series of moves hints at the Knicks trying to duck the second apron.
As free agency rapidly approaches this upcoming week, the Knicks should rethink their strategy. It will likely cause them to lose Mitchell Robinson and/or Landry Shamet in free agency, which could have an extremely negative impact on their chances of successfully defending the NBA championship next season.
Key cogs
Robinson and Shamet were vital contributors to the Knicks’ championship run. Both players’ performances were reflective of a Knicks roster that had depth where its bench filled in the gaps around New York’s stars.
If the Knicks lose Robinson, it will be nearly impossible to replace him.
The seven-footer has been with the Knicks since he was drafted by the club in the second round in 2018. Robinson is a unique player. He’s been one of the top offensive rebounders in the NBA over the last several years. His work on the offensive glass has won playoff games for the Knicks.
In the championship clincher against the San Antonio Spurs, six of Robinson’s 10 rebounds came on the offensive end; this included an offensive board on a missed free-throw that pretty much sealed the title.
Shamet was a reliable two-way guard. On a minimum contract, he played credible defense, and was an effective outside threat, knocking down 47.5 percent of his three-point attempts during the postseason. Shamet was another perimeter option New York could go to if Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart had quiet nights.
There were several games where Shamet closed in the fourth quarters of important games.
Robinson seems like the most likely casualty. Several teams in need of centers can offer the non-tax midlevel exception of about $15 million. If the Knicks stay under the second apron, they won’t be able to compete with those offers.
There aren’t many players the Knicks would be able to find on the cheap to replace Robinson or Shamet that would also be able to replicate their value.
It makes sense for the Knicks to be concerned about the second apron, the penalties to team building are stark.
Teams in the second apron lose access to the taxpayer midlevel exception, can’t aggregate multiple salaries to acquire larger-salaried players, and can’t use cash in trades, among other restrictions. Then, there are the hefty luxury tax payments. But going into the second apron for one or two years would be worth it, if it gives the Knicks a chance to contend for more championships.
The numbers
Going forward, staying under the second apron will be a challenge. New York has been active in the offseason already, agreeing to multi-year deals to re-sign Mohamed Diawara and Jose Alvarado. The 2026-27 salary figures on the agreements aren’t clear, but the Knicks are not too far from the $222 million second apron threshold.
Ducking the apron is a problem that won’t go away after the new season. New York’s starting lineup is set to make just under a combined $192 million for the 2026-27 season. Depending on potential contract extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart in the near future, that group can still become even more expensive.
As that figure is just about $30 million away from the second apron, the Knicks will likely have to think about re-orienting the pay allocation around the starting lineup. But that’s something that can wait.
The Knicks have a real chance to repeat going into next season, so dealing with the financial constraints for one or two more years is worth it. New York had not won a championship in the last 53 years. So, realizing this moment, where the Knicks have a real chance to compete for a championship again, is imperative.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the official opening of NBA free agency just days away, we inch closer to the point where we can better understand what next season’s Lakers will look like.
We already know that Austin Reaves will return, but beyond bringing him back on a max contract, President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and this Lakers front office has much work to do in building out a roster that can fulfill the promise of putting a championship-level group around Luka Dončić.
Depending on who you ask, the team’s most pressing priorities range from upgrading the team’s starting center to determining what will happen with LeBron James to finding a younger, defensive-minded wing who could slot between Dončić and Reaves. All, of course, are super important and, when considering these are just priorities and not all that needs to happen, only reinforce the amount of work left to build out the team.
Many of the Lakers top targets are well known and heavily reported on already. The point of this discussion isn’t to dive into all of those names now, but rather to look at a (mostly) different crop of names.
More specifically, players whose contract status is more liquid, either in the form of player options, team options, or, in one case, a restricted free agent who could end up being renounced and suddenly be thrust into the general free agent market to be signed by anyone.
Without further ado, then, here are five possible free agents whom the Lakers should be keeping tabs on and/or who could greatly impact the team’s pathway towards building out a contender this summer.
Deandre Ayton
Okay, I’m going to cheat right out of the gate and name one of the Lakers’ own potential free agents.
Ayton’s player option of $8.1 million for next season isn’t some huge number that dramatically impacts the team’s cap space in either direction, so the potential impacts don’t have much to do with money on the open market.
Instead, this is about the ability to include Ayton in a trade, in which case he could be aggregated with additional players to both enhance an offer from a positional and talent perspective while also adding more salary ballast into a deal to acquire a pricier target from another team.
On the former, it should be noted that just because the Lakers seem ready to move on from Ayton, it does not mean he’s not a capable player able to help a team. So, if the Lakers are trying to trade for a starting caliber center, Ayton could check two boxes — first as a rotational piece who could help fill replace some of the minutes load being sent out by the trading team and, second, as a someone who has enough talent to at least compete for a starting spot.
On the latter point, an additional $8 million dollars to include in a trade for a presumably higher-priced player has real value. As it stands, the Lakers only have three players who make over $4 million dollars they would even consider including in a trade: Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, and Dalton Knecht.
And while the Lakers wouldn’t necessarily need more salary ballast in a deal as a cap space team, the more salary they could include would help them use less of their cap space in a trade, and thus allow them more room to operate in the market in other deals.
So, even if the Lakers are ready to move on from Ayton, whether he opts into his option for next year could have a real impact on how the team operates in the market, especially in trades.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – APRIL 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball in front of Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center on April 8, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lu Dort
Dort is another player who the Lakers have reportedly real interest in, and that would be both as a free agent or, as a member of the Thunder were they to pick up their team option on his $18.2 million contract for next season.
To be clear, I expect OKC to do just that and hold onto his rights. Besides Kevin Durant — and probably informed by what happened with him, if we’re being honest — Sam Presti is not known to let players walk away in free agency without getting something back in return. So, just as he did with Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe over the last week, I expect Presti to “maximize the asset” and try to recoup some draft capital should Dort actually end up on the move.
I will say, though, that there would be no shortage of suitors for Dort’s services if he becomes available either as a free agent or via trade. The Lakers would likely be near the top of that list, but with the Bulls and Nets still having cap space and several other teams with large trade exceptions, OKC should not have trouble finding a team willing to take on his money without sending any contracts back.
That would lead to what sort of draft compensation a team would be willing to send back to the Thunder in exchange for him, and whether they can create a robust enough market to drive that price up. Both Wiggins and Joe netted them two second rounders. I’d guess Dort nets at least the same.
As an FYI, the Lakers do not have multiple second rounders available to trade, instead only holding future firsts. I do not believe Dort is worth a first round pick while also taking his salary back, which would mean trying to find a middle ground in a Lakers specific trade, possibly requiring the Thunder to send draft capital back to L.A. if they did include a future first rounder.
But those are longer conversations for another day.
It’s been speculated that Wiggins held off on deciding whether to exercise his $30.1 million player option until after the Giannis trade was completed so he would not be included in the deal. Now that Giannis is in Miami, it’s also believed that he will return to the Heat in some fashion, either by picking up his option to return or opting out and signing for a lower salary next year but more guaranteed money through a longer-term deal.
And while I have no reason to doubt that reporting, I will also say that a recent surge of speculation around a possible LeBron return to Miami has put Wiggins’ future there back into doubt. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently put together a fake trade idea that would net the Lakers Wiggins in a deal that would send LeBron back to South Beach, but even beyond those sorts of armchair GM ideas, Rich Paul’s comments talking about what Miami needs now that Giannis is there has some trying to read between the lines about whether the player he’s describing is his own client.
In any event, Wiggins is a name to keep an eye on, whether he comes on the market as a true-blue free agent or even if he opts in and is, seemingly, on the Heat’s roster.
Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga’s $24.3 million option is likely too rich for the Lakers’ blood to simply take on into cap space, but I don’t think it’s out of the question for them to have interest in him should the Hawks decide to decline that option and just make him a free agent.
To be clear, I have not seen any reporting that the Hawks are considering such a move. That said, whispers that Atlanta could explore trading Kuminga after just acquiring him at the February trade deadline do not inspire confidence that they’re fully bought into the mercurial former Warrior.
So, this is a very straight forward case of, if he becomes a free agent, I expect the Lakers to kick the tires on an early-20’s former lottery pick with very good athleticism, some on-ball chops offensively, and who has at least shown he can compete defensively (even if his attention to detail and willingness to do all the little things has not been up to par).
It’s just rare for a player of his pedigree, who has shown he can hang in playoff environments with both the Warriors and the Hawks, to end up on the market as a free agent with no restricted strings attached.
So, it will be worth monitoring to see if he does shake loose unexpectedly.
Benedict Mathurin
Because he’s both a restricted free agent and the key player returning to LA for the Clippers in the Ivica Zubac trade, Mathurin isn’t a name that has come up very often as a potential target for the wing-starved Lakers. I think it’s just been assumed he’d work out a deal to stay, with his market somewhat depressed by restricted free agency, like nearly every other player who finds themselves in that situation.
The Clippers will also have to navigate Bennedict Mathurin’s restricted free agency this summer after the talented young scorer arrived in February from Indiana as part of the Clippers’ draft pick-dominated trade return for Ivica Zubac. Sources say that the Clippers have been weighing whether or not to renounce both Mathurin and unrestricted free agent-to-be John Collins, which would enable them to operate as a team with roughly $22 million in cap space.
And then, on a recent episode of his podcast, Zach Lowe of The Ringer noted that “people who would know” said that the Clippers were “behaving as a team who would have cap space” this summer. And just as Fischer noted, Lowe explained that they would only be able to open up a little more than $20 million in space and it would require renouncing rights to players.
Where there is smoke there’s fire. And if the Clippers feel like cap space this summer, the No. 5 pick in this draft (Keaton Wagler) and another unprotected pick in 2029 was enough in exchange for Zubac, it would not surprise me at all.
Will it happen that way? It remains to be seen. But if it does, a young and athletic scoring forward with good positional size who has shown he can be a rotation player for a team that makes a deep playoff run (as he did with the Pacers) would be a very nice target for the Lakers in free agency.
