Worldwide Sports News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, now Beasley has been charged with a crime.

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

NBA spokesman Mike Bass gave the following staement:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Spurs signed Champagnie and Barnes to great deals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Spurs’ depth chart stands as follows:

PG: Stephon Castle – Dylan Harper

SG: De’Aaron Fox

SF: Devin Vassell – Carter Bryant

PF: Julian Champagnie – Keldon Johnson – Harrison Barnes

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

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

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

LeBron James will play next season but plans to leave Lakers: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

LeBron James isn’t retiring — but he reportedly will be on a new team next season.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is expected to leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, according to multiple reports.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that James informed the Lakers that “the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere.”

James, 41, spent eight seasons with the Lakers after previous stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18) and Miami Heat (2010-14). He led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship in the 2019-20 season, which ended in the bubble in Orlando due to Covid.

Over his Lakers tenure, James became the league’s top all-time scorer, made eight All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA teams. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game in the regular season with 63 postseason games played.

Things have changed in recent years for James, though, since the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic. The younger superstar became the face and future of the franchise, leaving James to play in a secondary role alongside Austin Reaves.

Last season, the Lakers went 53-29 and lost in the second round to the Oklahoma City Thunder. James played just 60 games, causing him to miss out on All-NBA for the first time since his rookie year.

Now a free agent for the fourth time in his career, James’ next move could be his last. He will enter his 24th NBA season as the league’s oldest player.

James’ next team has been speculated as the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly could look to pair in-house stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green with James and his former teammate Anthony Davis. Other teams pursuing James could include his former homes in Cleveland and Miami, though they’ll have less money to spend compared to Golden State.

NBA free agency officially opens at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, June 30.

LeBron James will play next season but plans to leave Lakers: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James isn’t retiring — but he reportedly will be on a new team next season.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is expected to leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, according to multiple reports.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that James informed the Lakers that “the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere.”

James, 41, spent eight seasons with the Lakers after previous stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18) and Miami Heat (2010-14). He led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship in the 2019-20 season, which ended in the bubble in Orlando due to Covid.

Over his Lakers tenure, James became the league’s top all-time scorer, made eight All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA teams. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game in the regular season with 63 postseason games played.

Things have changed in recent years for James, though, since the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic. The younger superstar became the face and future of the franchise, leaving James to play in a secondary role alongside Austin Reaves.

Last season, the Lakers went 53-29 and lost in the second round to the Oklahoma City Thunder. James played just 60 games, causing him to miss out on All-NBA for the first time since his rookie year.

Now a free agent for the fourth time in his career, James’ next move could be his last. He will enter his 24th NBA season as the league’s oldest player.

James’ next team has been speculated as the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly could look to pair in-house stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green with James and his former teammate Anthony Davis. Other teams pursuing James could include his former homes in Cleveland and Miami, though they’ll have less money to spend compared to Golden State.

NBA free agency officially opens at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, June 30.

The Houston Rockets’ brass has drawn a good bit of criticism this offseason for a lack of activity. Understandably, as we’ve seen other teams make moves, either to load up and bolster their roster or to set themselves up for future flexibility, as in the case of the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

We haven’t seen that from Houston, outside of a trade on draft day, in which Houston traded up from 39 to 31 to select Bruce Thornton. 

(Technically, the Rockets made multiple trades on day two of the draft).

Perhaps the Rockets are also saving their stockpile of assets for a future move, as well? Which isn’t a bad idea, if Anthony Edwards becomes available down the line.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Edwards has been frustrated ever since the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon offered an additional nugget.

“The NBA vultures are swirling around Ant in anticipation of him potentially becoming the next superstar who’s available in the trade market.”

Which prompts the question of whether the Rockets should be positioning themselves to make a run at Edwards. Well, that’s not much of a question. 

At least, it shouldn’t be. Edwards is still just 24 years old and is under contract through 2029. Exactly the type of situation that the Rockets should be angling for.

And it doesn’t matter the asking price. Again, he’s young and under contract long-term. And he’s already immersed as a top-five player in the league. 

Granted, holding out for the eventual hope of a trade is risky. And it likely means passing on other ready-now options and players currently available (or at the deadline). But would any of those options be better players than Edwards?

Certainly not. Do we think anyone on the Rockets will become better players than Edwards? Surely not. 

Does Edwards make the Rockets a better team? There’s not a question about that, either. Again, the risk of waiting for Edwards to ask out of Minnesota and that either not happening or it happening and Houston falling short of landing him is all the cost of doing business.

If Houston has any semblance of intel that Edwards could become available in the near future, there’s only one course of action to take. 

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: What are your thoughts on the Suns drafting Koa Peat and his fit with the Suns?

GuarGuar: I liked the Peat pick and feel like he’s a great value for where we got him and what we had to give up. This team needs athleticism and size, and he certainly brings that. He’s another guy who is a jumpshot away so we will see if this one finally hits for us, but I love the upside with Koa. 100% approve of the pick and am looking forward to seeing him in Summer League.

Ashton: BG and the Suns went to the NBA draft bargain bin clearance sale and ended up with a lottery pick at half price with pick number 30. Good job.

I am actually not sure where some of the angst is coming from, the Suns posters or even national pundits that wildly graded this pick as an A, B, or a C. Full disclosure, I am an Arizona alum, and I watch all the games. Let’s discuss some of the issues.

1. Koa can’t shoot threes. The entire team (University of Arizona) was not shooting threes! They ranked close to last at the three-point rate among all NCAA teams taken (363 out of 365 teams). Why? Because they were killing teams with players in the paint (Krivas and Awaka) with rebounds and scoring. They left nothing on the dinner table for Koa Peat.
2. Koa can’t shoot. Oh, he can. So, when the ball was kicked out to him from the aforementioned players’ gobbling up of all the rebounds or the guards hitting tough shots, there were two paths. Take it to the hoop or just straight up or drain the middy. He was not going to the perimeter for a catch and shoot. A lot has been on his shot mechanics, where he tried for a higher point of release at the NBA combine. This was a mistake. He should have explored the shot mechanics after the combine for a better draft position, but then the Suns would have never been able to draft him. This is nothing that a good Suns shooting coach can teach.
3. Koa can’t defend. Oh common! He is coming off a Tommy Lloyd-coached team, a team that preaches defensive discipline. Koa Peat would not play if he let his man blow by him. Some talk from the cherry-pickers that he lacks lateral quickness.

Prove me wrong. The last time I defended an Arizona pick in DA, my arse was kicked. Koa Peat is different and will be rostered due to his work ethic and coaching ability. A starter? No. And an end-of-the-bench PF that will wow you at times in his rookie season. And an Arizona Son.

OldAz: I don’t watch a ton of college ball outside of the tournament, and I certainly don’t indulge in nearly as much draft prep as others. As a result, my opinions are limited to seeing which talking heads liked their pick and which ones hated it.

I tend to ignore the Twitter (X?) trolls that post a few clips to show that he sucks just as much as the fanboys who post highlights against the college of the blind. For the most part, the voices I trust see a kid with a ton of natural talent, incredible upside, and high basketball IQ that needs to learn to shoot.

Considering his age, I have no reason to question if he can develop a more consistent shot and trust that they will develop him into a positive contributor that will end up a bargain for the late first round.

Rod: Honestly, I just trust Brian Gregory’s judgement on these things…for now anyway. I don’t watch college ball much at all anymore, so I’m limited in my knowledge of the players in the draft, so I have to rely on second-hand info…which has been all over the place on Peat.

I do really like what he said in the presser about him always trying to get to the rim, always attacking the basket. More players with that attitude are something this team has needed to balance out all the three-point attempts. When the threes weren’t falling, this team was usually in trouble last season and I see this as a sign that the FO recognized this and is attempting to fix a flaw in the construction of their roster.

Q2: Suns GM Brian Gregory gave up three 2nd-round picks to move up to 30th and draft Peat. What is your opinion of the price he paid to move up?

GuarGuar: I think that’s a totally fair and reasonable price to move up for Koa. 2nds are not that valuable, and while we are limited in draft assets, it’s not a big deal to me. It’s very hard to hit on 2nd rounders, and the chance of us hitting on a late first is definitely better (albeit still small). Good move overall in my book.

Ashton: This question hurts. I have maintained that those second-round picks could be valuable. 2027 mock drafts have the Suns in an unflattering position on the pick swaps, which simply means that pundits (and gambling sites) think they are on the decline. The Suns owned the 2029 and 2033 second-round picks, which could have been low 30’s. They are gone.

But now I know the price of what it takes to move into the first round. And the price is not that bad. And from Q1, the return was quite good.

It should be mentioned that both Jaden Bradley and Henri Vessar were available with the 2026 47th pick. The Knicks chose Tyler Nickel. I know nothing about this guy, but I could have talked about the other two. So did the Suns overpay?

And while we are talking mocks, Suns would get the least favorable probably get the least favorable from Cleveland in the first round in 2027. Mocked at 21. B.S. – Cleveland is better and the Sun’s first round pick that can be traded is probably more mid-twenties.

Regardless, it was a good trade.

OldAz: First, I don’t look at it as giving up 3 picks because they would have made a much later selection with one of those 3 picks. So they gave up 2 future 2nd round picks and still ended up with 1 player out of this draft. I also like when they move with conviction to get the player that they want and can reasonably acquire.

If Gregory continues to show a better eye for talent and mind for development compared to past Suns front offices, then we won’t care about those extra two 2nd round picks. However, the Suns once got exactly what they wanted and drafted both Marquis Criss and Dragan Bender in the same draft class, and we all know how poorly that worked out. Even if this evaluation of talent is just as bad as those extra seconds are far less costly than the 4th and 8th picks overall.

Rod: I’m good with it because they used them to get what they wanted (Peat). For the most part, 2nd round picks are like the spare change in my pocket. Individually, they aren’t often worth that much but the more you have, the more you can get in exchange for them…and the Suns just cashed in those 2nds for a late first. Was it an overpay? Only time will tell on that one. It all depends on how Peat turns out as an NBA player so it’s way too early to place judgment on it right now.

Q3: Following the draft, Gregory moved quickly to sign two undrafted players, PG Sam Hoiberg (Nebraska, Exhibit-10 non-guaranteed contract) and SG/Wing Corey Camper Jr. (Nevada, Exhibit-10 non-guaranteed contract). What are your thoughts on these signings?

GuarGuar: I doubt either will play a single meaningful minute for the Suns, especially Hoiberg. But you never know what can happen, and if either of these guys breaks out in Summer League we could have an interesting roster conundrum come September. If one of these guys were to break out, I would say Campers based on his skill set and frame.

Ashton: I have no problems with Exhibit-10 contracts. Camper Jr. is not someone I have watched. Nevada was trying to win the Mountain West Conference late in the season (why do I follow college BB?) and were probably screwed by the selection committee, but they made the NIT and quarterfinals (loss to Auburn). The NCAA tourney field will expand next year, but they want more losing power conference teams. I am not sure if that helps the group of 6. I really do not get this invite.

Sam Hoiberg comes from a great pedigree, and it is simply amazing what Nebraska was able to accomplish last season. I never thought I would say that about a Lincoln-based team since the 90’s. So, I am interested in what he can do in the Summer League. If he brings the same fire that he made for a moribund Huskers basketball team in the Big 10, so this could be a good pick-up.

Still, I think the Suns could have done better. So color me unimpressed.

OldAz: We’ll, I have heard of Hoiberg at least. Oh, wait, that’s probably his father/coach whose name I recognize. Well, that probably means he has a high basketball IQ, which is a nice thing, especially for a point guard, and I even think his dad played in the league, so there’s that. That’s about all I can come up with for players I have not watched and are probably just camp bodies anyway at this point.

Rod: I actually like both of these guys…for the Valley Suns. I expect that’s where they’ll both wind up this year, but Hoiberg might have the potential to be a fair backup PG someday, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see his E-10 contract converted into a two-way later on. One thing I like about both is that they’re supposed to be good defensive players, too. This fits into what Gregory seems to want in his players so there might be a place for them other than the G League eventually.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

Quotes of the Week

“Every day, the character piece comes into play. Because what we’re asking guys to do, is do stuff that not everybody is willing to do. We gotta make sure these guys have that character piece, have that work ethic, the tireless competitiveness where they’re never satisfied.” – Brian Gregory

“You can’t predicate your game on scoring. You’ve got to do other things to help your team win.” – Koa Peat

“Ever since a young kid, I’ve always been trying to get to the rim. My parents have always told me not to settle when I get on the court. Trying to get to the rim, draw fouls and get other teams in foul trouble and try to go in there and dunk on people.” – Koa Peat

Suns Trivia/History

On June 28, 1988, the Suns drafted Dan Majerle in the 1st round (14th pick) of the 1988 NBA Draft. Most fans booed the pick as it was made.

On June 28, 2008, the Suns traded Malik Hairston, cash, and a 2009 2nd round draft pick (DeJuan Blair was later selected) to the San Antonio Spurs for Goran Dragic.

During game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals in 2010, Dragic led a Phoenix Suns comeback against the team that originally drafted him, the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 23 of his total 26 points in the fourth quarter. Dragić scored his points on 10/13 FG attempts, including 5/5 three-pointers and a 4-point play, as the Suns overcame an early 18-point deficit to defeat the Spurs 110–96 and take a 3–0 lead in their best-of-seven series in the Western Conference Semifinals.

In 2014, Dragic won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He is one of three Suns players to have won the award, with the other two being Kevin Johnson (1989) and Boris Diaw (2006).

On June 30, 1999, the Suns drafted Shawn Marion in the 1st round (9th pick) of the 1999 NBA Draft with the draft pick they acquired from the Dallas Mavericks for Steve Nash the previous year.

In his 9 seasons with the Suns, Marion scored 12,134 points (4th on the Suns’ All-Time leaders list), grabbed 6,616 rebounds (2nd most All-Time), dished out 1,332 assists (17th most All-Time), had 1,245 steals (2nd most All-Time), blocked 894 shots (3rd most All-Time), and made 652 three-pointers (5th most All-Time). In the playoffs, his total of 706 rebounds is the highest in franchise history.

On July 3, 1992, the Suns signed 33-year-old, 11-year NBA veteran Danny Ainge as a free agent. Ainge would play his final 3 seasons in the NBA with the Suns before retiring in 1995. One year later, Ainge would return to Phoenix as the Suns’ head coach for three full seasons and part of a fourth before abruptly resigning after 20 games in 1999 citing a need to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by assistant coach Scott Skiles. The Suns made it to the playoffs each of Ainge’s 3 full seasons as HC but were eliminated in the 1st round all three years.

Important Future Dates

June 30 – Teams can begin negotiations with all free agents
July 1 – Official start of the 2026-27 league year and moratorium period
July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin
July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas
Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open

The news of Deandre Ayton exercising his $8.1 player option for the 2026-27 season to stay with the Lakers wasn’t surprising.

Even with him outplaying the $8.1 salary he made from the Lakers in 2025-26 (he gave up $10 million of his $35.6 million contract in his buyout with the Trail Blazers last summer before signing with the Lakers), Ayton picking up his option for next season was the expected outcome.

And during an offseason the Lakers have prioritized optionality, they’ll still have options on how to improve the roster regardless of Ayton’s decision as they look to build a championship-contending group around superstar guard Luka Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.

Even with Ayton on the roster, the Lakers could still open up $45-$52 million in cap space depending on what they do with the rights (and cap holds) with their own free agents (LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber).

They’ll still have several roster spots to fill.

And they’ll still have plenty of needs, with the biggest one being the type of center Doncic has long expressed his desire to play alongside in Los Angeles. 

There may not be many attainable “A-list center” options on the market this summer, which is Doncic’s biggest desire now it’s known that Reaves will re-sign on a four-year, $185 million deal. 

But the Lakers will continue to pursue Jazz restricted free agent Walker Kessler, who turned down a five-year, $140 million contract with Utah. 

Kessler, who’s been one of the league’s best rim protectors since entering the league in 2022, fits the archetype of the kind of big man Doncic likes to play alongside.

He fits that mold in the ways Ayton, who Doncic recruited last summer to the Lakers, didn’t consistently: rim-running, shot-blocking, high-motor and stays engaged even when the offensive touches aren’t consistent.

It’s clear that Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft who’ll turn 28 next month, won’t develop into that kind of center. 

Ayton’s talents have been evident since he entered the league, including last season with the Lakers when he averaged 12.5 points on a career-high 67.1% shooting and 8 rebounds in a career-high 72 games. 

His value was displayed during the Lakers’ first-round series victory over the Rockets. 

Ayton is clearly a starting-level caliber NBA center. He’s just not the starting center the Lakers need. 

Which is why they’ll continue to pursue other options when free agency officially opens at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, with Kessler toward the top of the list alongside Pistons restricted free agent Jalen Duren. 

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III are among the unrestricted free agent options for the Lakers, while Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford is among the trade options. 

And with Ayton opting into his deal, the Lakers could include him and his $8.1 million salary as part of a trade to upgrade the roster – whether that’s at center or another position of need on the wings/forward positions. 

There could be worse outcomes for the Lakers than having Ayton open the 2026-27 season as their starting center. 

But Doncic has made his desires for an upgrade clear. 

Which is part of the reason why the Lakers will continue to exhaust their options in making it happen. 

They know they must. 

Especially during an offseason there’s a considerable amount of pressure for the Lakers, led by president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, to build a better-fitting roster together around Doncic. 

Ayton is good, but not what the Lakers need. 

Which is why his decision to opt into his deal won’t stop the team from searching for what they – and Doncic – want. 

It didn’t take Memphis long to shut down the Ja Morant era: on Monday, they essentially gave him away, trading him to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. They didn’t even get a second-round pick out of this.

What it underscores is how much faith they have in their star rookie, former Blue Devil Cameron Boozer.

For his part, Boozer is embracing the focus, telling Chris Vernon on his show that “[w]e are a team who is going to really surprise people this year. We are going to be shockingly good to people. I think people don’t really understand that just because obviously it was kind of a rebuild, but you look at the players we have, the roster [and] who were are bringing in this year, and I think we are going to have something pretty special.”

One more question left to answer for Boozer: with Morant off to Portland, his number 12 is now available. Boozer had already taken #27, but there’s no real reason we know of why he couldn’t change it, except for the jerseys that have already been printed with #27.

• Ja Morant is a ghost of ‘Jail Blazers’ past
• Why the Trail Blazers Bought Low on Ja Morant
• Miami Heat Dodged A Bullet By Passing On Ja Morant
• Grizzlies just handed Cam Boozer the keys to the franchise after trading Ja Morant
• Grizzlies’ Cameron Boozer sends ‘shockingly good’ warning to rest of NBA
• Duke’s Cam Boozer set to face college rivals at NBA Summer League
• How do Cameron Boozer and the other Grizzlies rookies fit in Memphis?
• Cameron Boozer: Memphis is going to really surprise people this year
• Cam Boozer Embraces Chip on His Shoulder, Centerpiece Role With Memphis Grizzlies
• Cameron Boozer is best reason Richie Saunders thrives with Grizzlies

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

NBA free agency always feels like more of a sprint than a marathon, and the offseason action is already well underway as the moratorium lifts on Tuesday evening. Ja Morant is now on the Portland Trail Blazers in a deal no one could have seen coming. Giannis Antetokounmpo is suddenly a member of the Miami Heat, LaMelo Ball is somehow on the Minnesota Timberwolves, and suitors are circling Kawhi Leonard for a potential deal. There might even be a Jaylen Brown trade before this week is over.

Read our long list of this summer’s best free agents. There’s plenty of intrigue around LeBron James, Jalen Duren, and Norman Powell as free agency gets underway, but that’s just the start of this year’s available talent.

We’re keeping track of every trade and free agency signing in this post. Bookmark this story and refresh it often, because we’ll be adding the deals reported around the league as they happen.

Day 1 NBA free agency signings

• Mo Wagner, Brooklyn Nets agree to two-year, $19 million deal
• Dean Wade, Philadelphia 76ers agree to four years, $39 million deal, per Shams
• Zach Collins, Chicago Bulls agree to two-year, $17 million deal, per Shams
• Luke Kennard, Phoenix Suns agree to two-year, $13 million deal, per Shams
• Keon Ellis, Brooklyn Nets agree to two-year, $18 million deal, per Shams
• Kobe Sanders, Los Angeles Clippers agree to four-year, $11.2 million deal, per Shams
• Branden Carlson, Portland Trail Blazers agree to sign one-year, $2.5 million deal, per Shams
• Tim Hardaway Jr., Miami Heat agree to deal, per Haynes
• Bones Hyland, Minnesota Timberwolves agree to minimum contract, per Dane Moore
• Ousmane Dieng, Milwaukee Bucks agree to three-year, $17.5 million deal, per Shams
• DeAndre Jordan, New Orleans Pelicans agree to one-year deal, per Shams

Deals completed before start of free agency

• Toronto Raptors acquire Kawhi Leonard from Los Angeles Clippers for two first-round picks, one pick swap, Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and two second-round picks. Read our trade grades.
• Jock Landale, Atlanta Hawks agree to one-year, $14 million deal, per Shams
• Robert Williams, Portland Trail Blazers agree to three-year, $44 million deal, per Shams
• Simone Fontecchio, Miami Heat agree to 1-year deal, per Shams
• Kristaps Porzingis, Golden State Warriors agree to two-year, $40 million deal, per Shams
• Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs, agree to one-year, $8 million deal, per Shams
• Kevin Huerter, Detroit Pistons, agree to three-year, $27 million deal, per Shams
• Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz agree to two-year, $22 million deal, per Shams
• Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs agree to three-year, $45 million deal, per Shams
• Landry Shamet, New York Knicks agree to four-year, $24 million deal, per Shams
• Portland Trail Blazers acquire Ja Morant for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, per Shams
• Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz agree to two-year, $22 million deal, per Shams
• Hawks acquire Devin Carter, future second-round pick from Kings Thomas Bryant agrees to one-year deal with Cavs, per Shams
• Andre Wiggins agrees to 3-year, $64 million deal with Miami Heat, per Shams
• Day’ron Sharpe agrees to two-year, $20 million deal with Brooklyn Nets, per Shams
• Josh Minott agrees to two-year, $9 million deal with Brooklyn Nets, per Shams
• Suns acquire Miles Bridges, least favorable 2029 first-round pick from Charlotte Hornets for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, unprotected 2033 first-round pick Ron Harper Jr. agrees to three-year, $9 million deal with Boston Celtics, per Shams
• Isaiah Hartenstein agrees to three-year, $75 million deal with Oklahoma City Thunder, per Shams
• Jose Alvarado agrees to three-year, $15 million deal with New York Knicks Detroit Pistona acquire Isaiah Joe from Oklahoma City Thunder for two second-round picks, per Shams
• Mark Williams agrees to three-year, $38 million deal with Phoenix Suns, per Shams
• Coby White agrees to three-year, $74 million deal with Charlotte Hornets, per Shams
• Minnesota Timberwolves acquire LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from Charlotte Hornets for Naz Reid, 2033 first-round pick, three future pick swaps, and three second-round picks
• Al Horford agrees to two-year, $14 million deal with Golden State Warriors, per Shams
• Jordan Goodwin agrees to three-year, $19 million deal with Phoenix Suns
• Collin Gillespie agrees to four-year, $48 million deal with Phoenix Suns
• Brooklyn Nets acquire Julius Randle and first-round pick, Chicago Bulls acquire Nic Claxton, Minnesota Timberwolves acquire second-round pick
• Miami Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee Bucks for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 draft, unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033, a first-round pick swap in 2030, and a 2033 second-rounder