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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!

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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

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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.

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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

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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

Here is the Summer League schedule for Duke’s NBA rookies for those who need a hoops fix and a break from World Cup play. We formatted it for our purposes, but credit to @BeardedBlueDevl for pulling it together over on X.

Don’t read too much into these games, though. Look at what ESPN said about Cooper Flagg’s debut last season.

California Classic (July 3–6)

 Fri., July 3 • 7:00 PM CT

• Heat vs. Spurs (Maliq Brown)

 Sun., July 5 • 6:00 PM CT

•  Spurs vs. Warriors (Maliq Brown)

 Mon., July 6 • 6:30 PM CT

• Lakers vs. Spurs (Maliq Brown)

Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4, 6–7)

Sat., July 4 • 2:00 PM CT

•  Grizzlies vs. Thunder (Cam Boozer)

 Mon., July 6 • 8:00 PM CT

• Grizzlies vs. Jazz (Cam Boozer)

 Tue., July 7 • 6:00 PM CT

• Hawks vs. Grizzlies (Cam Boozer)

Las Vegas Summer League (July 9–19)

 Thu., July 9 • 2:30 PM CT (Prime Video)

•  Timberwolves vs. Pelicans (Isaiah Evans)

Thu., July 9 • 3:30 PM CT (ESPN2)

•  Spurs vs. Hawks (Maliq Brown)

 Fri., July 10 • 7:00 PM CT (Prime Video)

• Bulls vs. Grizzlies (Cam Boozer)

 Sat., July 11 • 5:00 PM CT (ESPN)

• Knicks vs. Spurs (Maliq Brown)

 Sat., July 11 • 6:30 PM CT (Prime Video)

• Nuggets vs. Timberwolves (Isaiah Evans)

 Sun., July 12 • 8:00 PM CT (ESPN)

• Spurs vs. Bucks (Maliq Brown)

 Mon., July 13 • 6:00 PM CT (ESPN)

• Mavericks vs. Grizzlies (Cam Boozer)

Mon., July 13 • 10:00 PM CT (ESPN2)

 Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers (Isaiah Evans)

Tue., July 14 • 6:00 PM CT (ESPN)

• Grizzlies vs. Warriors (Cam Boozer)

 Wed., July 15 • 2:30 PM CT (Prime Video)

• Pacers vs. Timberwolves (Isaiah Evans)

 Wed., July 15 • 8:30 PM CT (Prime Video)

• Jazz vs. Spurs (Maliq Brown)

 Thu., July 16 • 7:00 PM CT (Prime Video)

• Grizzlies vs. Hawks (Cam Boozer)

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When Ja Morant jumps into the air, he levitates past the natural apex of his arc, as if gravity decided to give him an extra half-second of respite. Men a foot taller or with 50 lbs more muscle don’t have as much spring as is packed in his 6ft 2in frame. He can end up almost fully horizontal when he dunks. He is hardly a one-dimensional player though: he sees the game in higher definition than his peers too, zipping passes to teammates a beat before his opponents process the situation. Morant is rarely the best player on the floor at a given moment, but he often seems to be having the most fun. His highlights invite smiles. What could be cooler than a little guy outperforming giants with craft? Imagine if, in the NBA finals, Jalen Brunson had dunked over Victor Wembanyama. Morant knows what that would feel like, because he’s done it.

The Memphis Grizzlies drafted Morant second overall in 2019. They watched him blossom into 2020 Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star as the franchise player on a semi-reliable playoff team. In 2022, he scored 47 points in a playoff win against the Golden State Warriors, the eventual champions that year. As a young star with such a particular style, Morant figured to reach even greater heights, on the Grizzlies and as one of the faces of the league.

On Monday, the Grizzlies unloaded him to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray (Grant’s contract is clunky, Murray’s shot is worse). “Flagrantly available,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said of Morant a few days before the trade. “Couldn’t be more available.” A few months prior, Windhorst said Morant had “negative value” in the league, meaning teams demanded draft picks on top of the player himself. The Grizzlies desperately wanted to get rid of the face of their franchise. Nobody wanted him. What went so wrong?

Morant has struggled with arm injuries; this past season he played in just 20 of 82 games thanks to a hurt elbow. (You imagine those tendons straining and popping as he torques to dunk before Earth can reclaim him.) But his fall from grace is also self-inflicted.

Morant cannot get enough of guns. Waving them like flags on not one but two livestreams in 2023 earned him lengthy suspensions. Later, he took to firing imaginary guns after hitting shots – in fairness to him, he was never the best shooter, and perhaps felt the splashes deserved punctuation. But he kept at it after warnings and a $75,000 fine. He experimented with miming a bazooka, then a grenade. Off the court, Morant’s resume of shame is long. While the antics didn’t have a direct correlation with his play, the Grizzlies were clearly frustrated with his off-court behavior. It made for a frustrating blend with Morant’s telegenic basketball style – outside the contained spectacle of a colossal two-handed block or the mother of all contested layups, he far too often made his own problems other people’s inconvenience or harm.

Morant now finds himself in a mid-career purgatory. At 26, he’s too old to be called young, but has failed to show he has the maturity to lead a team. Portland may be an easier environment than Memphis, who had already shed Morant’s co-stars, Jaren Jackson Jr and Desmond Bane.

With foul-drawer extraordinaire Deni Avdija as the centerpiece of the Blazers’ offense, Morant’s passing ability and bursts towards the rim could prove complementary. But Portland were already flush with point guards before the trade, furthering the impression that the exchange happened primarily because the Grizzlies wanted to dump their fading star.

On top of that, the sport is evolving away from players like Morant. The name of the game is shooting and physicality. Morant lacks the former, and despite his explosive talent, isn’t durable or defensively strong enough to keep up with the attrition of the league. His size and passing skills make for a helpful Trae Young comparison. Though Young is a better shooter, much more reliant on drawing fouls, and much less springy, the onetime Atlanta Hawk was once effective but can’t find an easy niche in the league these days. (Wish the Washington Wizards luck as they navigate Young’s hopelessly bloated contract.) In Morant’s case, once age makes him more susceptible to gravity, he won’t have a midrange jumper or three-point shot to compensate for the decline.

It’s all made for one of the more spectacular nosedives in the NBA. Each season sees a few notable players struggling with their stock – see Fox, De’Aaron, and Duren, Jalen – but few have suffered as steady and prolonged a slide as Morant. So call it rock bottom for Morant, at least relative to his time in the league so far. Gravity gets everybody in the end. For Morant’s career, it came sooner than anybody could have expected when his feet left the ground.

Yesterday the Spurs signed Julian Champagnie to a three-year extension and renewed Harrison Barnes for another year. With those two locked in, the Spurs have ten confirmed players. With the fate of the recent draftees undetermined, there are five available spots going into free agency today.

PTR’s Jeje Gomez posted a great piece explaining what Spurs fans need to know. Pounders, this is your time to get in on the conversation. What do you feel the Spurs biggest needs are going into the window?

And outside of San Antonio, what are you thoughts on the Boston Celtics shopping Jaylen Brown? Brown just came off his best season. Boston offered Brown along with picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo in a failed attempt to acquire the Greek Freak. They now have an insulted superstar on their hands as the widen the search for a trade.

And then there’s Kawhi Leonard. Leonard celebrated his 35th birthday yesterday. True, Leonard is coming off a great season, but he is past his prime and injury-prone. And once again, there are rumblings from his camp that he won’t accept just any trade. Ironically, he seems amenable to Toronto, the team he once walked away from immediately after winning a championship. Apparently, he needs familiarity, and the United States based NBA teams are a deal breaker.

And then there’s Golden State. They seem to be launching a retirement home for NBA legends. Stephen Curry (38), Draymond Green (36), Jimmy Butler (36), Al Horford (40), and Kristaps Porzingis (30) are looking to add LeBron James (41) and Anthony Davis (33). I’ll take “Past Their Prime” for 1,000, Alex. While this could be a collection of some of the greatest players of their generation, their generation’s viability has passed. At this point, the question isn’t where LeBron is going to play but rather is he going to play at all? The Lakers have done their due diligence to make him an offer. Meanwhile, King James hasn’t been this silent since he was MIA in Vegas after the Spurs dismantled The Heatles in 2014.

These pre-free agency trades are trip. Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, and now Ja Morant is heading to Portland. Blockbuster style trades and the first free agent has yet to theoretically commit.

Watch for trades throughout the day, especially with Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard still in the mix. And then starting at 5;00 p.m. CST, players will determine their fate as they give verbal commitment to their next season and beyond.

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Make no mistake about it, what Landry Shamet did for the Knicks yesterday was a godsend.

Despite a multitude of contenders and playoff teams potentially interested in the sharpshooter, armed with full mid-level exceptions, Shamet rewarded the team that took a chance on him deep into September in back-to-back seasons, re-upping on a four-year, $24 million pact.

Just in: Free agent guard Landry Shamet intends to sign a new four-year, $24 million deal to return to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Shamet's agent, George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group, worked with Knicks executives on Monday to land the long-term commitment. pic.twitter.com/quLuctcv1l

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026

It was hard to fully pin down what Shamet’s value was heading into free agency, but an average annual value of $6 million is certainly on the low end. I believed fair market value for him would be around $8 million, but a bidding war amongst playoff teams could’ve pushed it near $10 million for guy coming off a playoff run for the ages.

Hell, did you see what Kevin Huerter and Julian Champagnie got? The St. John’s product inked a $15 million-a-year deal, while Huerter, who was unplayable for Detroit in the playoffs, signed for three years and $27 million.

Whatever went on behind the scenes to convince him to take this deal aside, this is tremendous news for the Knicks as they continue to work on the margins to build the best possible roster to defend their championship in 2026-27 without triggering the second apron, as per James Dolan’s edict.

But what are the actual financials that the Knicks have entering the official start of free agency at 6 pm tonight? That’s what we’re here for.

(As a reminder, for up-to-date information on these things, check out our salary cap info FAQ, where we partner with SalarySwish)

As of Tuesday morning, the Knicks are $11.7 million beneath the second apron with 10 players rostered, according to SalarySwish, but that is partially misleading.

For one, the full terms of Shamet and Jose Alvarado’s new contract structures are unknown. We can assume they’re naturally backloaded via Bird rights, but outside of that? They’re estimations.

The second caveat is that we know Mo Diawara has agreed to a multi-year deal worth over $10 million. We don’t know the full details of that, but several have theorized it’s an essential minimum deal across four years with a Year 1 salary of $2.87 million, just $423,000 over the vet min.

So let’s start by assuming all figures are accurate with Diawara’s $2.87 million starting salary. That shaves the space down to a narrow $8.83 million with three or four roster spots to fill. Three mandatory, four maximum.

That, on the surface, is scary. Four vet mins equals $9,828,000. That means the Knicks don’t have enough room even to fill out their roster. Hell, even three of them equal $7.37 million, leaving a small semblance of change remaining with an open roster spot to use in the buyout market.

But here’s the kicker. Remember how the Knicks made a bazillion trades on draft night to back out of the first round and save up to $2 million? This is where that comes into play.

The Knicks selected German guard Jack Kayil at No. 39 overall and Vanderbilt wing Tyler Nickel at No. 47. Neither of them would have much leverage in negotiating their contracts. The Knicks could always stash Kayil after Summer League, considering he was once supposed to enroll at Gonzaga for 2026-27, while Nickel is almost 23 years old after exhausting his collegiate eligibility.

That means that the Knicks can offer the bare minimum: the second-round exception.

The minimum value for the first year of the second-round exception, which can be given to as many players as needed, is $1.36 million.

There’s always a chance one of these guys starts on a two-way, but let’s imagine a world where both sign standard contracts at this sum. That means the Knicks will have 13 players rostered and $6,108,000 in apron space.

From there, they’d have two options:

• Use the 14th roster spot on the full Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, which has a Year 1 salary of $6,065,000, and leave the 15th open for the buyout market (this would likely require not using every dollar, but hey)
• Sign two players to fill out the roster. One to the vet min, while the other can receive a contract as large as two years, $7,484,550. That’s a decent deal.

What if the Knicks only use one second-round exception? Well, replay those two scenarios, but chop off $1.09 million. You can either sign one vet min and another to about 60% of the TPMLE, or three vet mins. It’ll depend on Leon and co.’s preferences. Especially with Ariel Hukporti seemingly out the door, they might pick the latter just to be able to get two more bigs in the building.

Lastly, I know people are wondering about Mitchell Robinson, and unfortunately, there’s no good news here.

There is no logistical way that Robinson will remain in the orange and blue without either a massive trade that completely tears up the cap sheet and generates a lot of apron space or an organizational shift in direction.

The former would entail one of the starters being traded, most likely Josh Hart, which is inconceivable off a championship. The latter would be Dolan being convinced by the powers that be to exceed the second apron.

A theory was surmised on WFAN on Monday that Dolan could agree to go into the second apron in 2026-27 to retain Robinson if pay cuts by Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns allowed him to dip under in 2027-28, but unless Craig Carton is acting as a mouthpiece for Dolan, this is just conjecture, folks.