NBA rumors

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, McBride has significantly outplayed his three-year, $13 million contract and has earned a raise.

The second apron and potential extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson, however, leave New York with limited financial flexibility.

McBride would prefer to remain with the Knicks, but his expiring contract could make him one of the league’s most valuable trade chips if New York eventually makes him available.

The Golden State Warriors are bringing Alex Toohey back on an Exhibit 10 training-camp contract.

According to Anthony Slater, the Australian forward will receive another opportunity after a knee injury derailed his first season in the organization.

Toohey was selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft and also briefly held a two-way contract with Golden State.

Deni Avdija could become a free agent in the summer of 2028. According to CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, there is a “very good chance” that the player will be available on the market due to the Portland Trail Blazers’ salary-cap situation.

“The Blazers are kind of a sinking ship. They are not setting themselves up to preserve the cap space they’re gonna need to renegotiate and extend Deni Avdija,” Quinn wrote.

Avdija’s current contract, which represents significant value for Portland, could therefore complicate the team’s plans for a future extension. The Blazers will need to manage their salary cap carefully if they want to retain Avdija long term.

The Los Angeles Lakers could view Kris Dunn as a possible solution to improve their perimeter defense and add another playmaker behind Luka Doncic.

In a trade scenario proposed by BasketNews writer Edvinas Kuzas, the Lakers would acquire Dunn, while the Clippers would receive Dalton Knecht and a future second-round pick. There is currently no report of active negotiations between the teams.

Dunn averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists while appearing in all 82 games last season. The 32-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at $5.6 million.

The lesson Gansey learned in Cleveland

Mike Gansey said Philadelphia’s approach to acquiring Jaylen Brown was rooted in his experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he served as general manager.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert would regularly challenge Gansey and his staff to make sure they had explored every possible avenue when pursuing a target.

“There were some trades that we’ve done that were two years in the making, simply because we kept calling. We kept checking in, and in the end we came away with that person. It didn’t always work, but we always wanted to make sure we did the work,” Gansey said.

The Sixers never stopped pursuing Brown

That same philosophy shaped Philadelphia’s pursuit of Brown. The Sixers knew they were not among Boston’s preferred trade partners when discussions first developed, but they continued to stay in contact.

Sources indicated that the Celtics’ preferred route initially involved moving Brown as part of a broader effort to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo. Philadelphia, however, remained engaged throughout the process.

When Boston missed out on Antetokounmpo, who ultimately went to the Miami Heat, the dynamics changed. Brown’s name had already surfaced publicly in trade discussions, and Boston had reached a point where it felt compelled to move him.

Philadelphia was viewed as a long shot

Even then, the Sixers considered themselves an unlikely destination. The conventional expectation was that Boston would prefer sending an All-NBA-caliber player like Brown to a Western Conference team rather than a divisional rival.

As Brown’s trade market softened, Philadelphia stayed involved and ultimately decided not to let the deal fall apart over the Clippers’ 2028 first-round pick.

“The process in talking to Boston about Jaylen took a couple of weeks. We let them know we were interested and then just kind of went from there. We just kind of stayed in the mix, and the next thing you know, we were at the five-yard line. We just kept banging the drum and expressing interest,” Gansey said.

Brown became the foundation for the LeBron pursuit

The trade for Jaylen Brown ultimately became the foundation for Philadelphia’s subsequent pursuit of LeBron James.

It set the stage for one of the most significant offseasons in franchise history.

Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons appear likely to reach an agreement on a new contract, but his long-term future with the franchise remains uncertain. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Duren does not reportedly feel sufficiently valued by Detroit, particularly with the organization viewing Ausar Thompson as another key building block alongside Cade Cunningham.

Negotiations are currently stalled, with Duren seeking at least $40 million per year while the Pistons are reportedly offering around $35 million. Amen Thompson’s five-year, $208 million extension with Houston has also strengthened Duren’s belief that he deserves a similar deal, especially after earning his first All-Star selection last season.

Detroit has shown no interest in a sign-and-trade, but committing major money to both Duren and Ausar Thompson could push the team toward the second apron. Even after a potential extension, Duren’s long-term future in Detroit could therefore remain uncertain.

The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a two-way contract with Grant Nelson. His agent, Max Wiepking of Gersh Basketball, confirmed the deal to HoopsHype.

The 7-foot big man previously earned an opportunity with Brooklyn late last season, joining the organization on a 10-day contract.

Nelson’s performance during that stint convinced the Nets to bring him back. He will be eligible to split time between the NBA roster and Brooklyn’s G League affiliate.

The New York Knicks are monitoring John Konchar and Drew Eubanks ahead of training camp. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, both players are on the defending NBA champions’ radar.

Konchar could bring defense, rebounding and connective playmaking to New York’s wing rotation. The 30-year-old averaged 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season between Memphis and Utah.

Eubanks would provide another low-cost frontcourt option behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. The center averaged 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds across 42 appearances with Sacramento.

Kawhi Leonard’s trade back to the Toronto Raptors is expected to become official within the next few days, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Leonard’s contract was not voided and the forward was not suspended, receiving only a $700,000 fine. Toronto can therefore complete the transaction without inheriting further sporting penalties.

Leonard will return to the franchise he led to the 2019 NBA championship. He averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season.

The Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers saga has taken another turn. The NBA and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are seeking information from Daktronics, the company behind the scoreboard at the Intuit Dome, as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged salary-cap circumvention by the Clippers.

The latest development follows an investigation by journalist Pablo Torre, who reported that Leonard allegedly received millions of dollars through a sponsorship arrangement involving Daktronics, similar to the controversial Aspiration case. The allegations center on whether such payments could have represented indirect compensation to Leonard outside his NBA contract.

During Daktronics’ earnings call, CFO Howard Atkins confirmed that the company had received information requests from both the NBA and SEC and said it was cooperating with the investigations. ESPN has meanwhile reported that the NBA has found no evidence that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer directly funneled money to Leonard through team sponsors, while the league continues examining the team’s relationships with its corporate partners.

If Jalen Duren becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027, expect the Sacramento Kings to pursue the young Detroit Pistons center.

According to Brian Windhorst and Anthony Slater of ESPN, Kings general manager Scott Perry met with Duren this offseason, but Detroit has shown no interest in working out a sign-and-trade involving its starting center.

Sacramento could have cap space

The situation could change next offseason. Sacramento is projected to have cap space and could once again pursue Duren, this time directly in free agency.

For Duren to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, however, he would have to either sign his qualifying offer, another one-year contract, or a two-year deal with a player option.

The latter scenarios are considered less likely, as any non-qualifying offer contract for Duren would likely be a long-term deal.

Duren on the Kings’ radar

The 2004-born center is therefore already a name to watch ahead of next summer. Sacramento appears to view Duren as a potential target for the future of its frontcourt, although much will depend on his contract decision over the coming months.

The Dallas Mavericks could trade Kyrie Irving before February’s deadline. According to Sean Deveney, the franchise first wants to evaluate the guard’s condition after an ACL tear has kept him sidelined since March 3, 2025.

Dallas reportedly rejected several offers during the summer, but Irving may not fit the organization’s new timeline around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks are expected to prioritize younger players and future assets.

Irving was performing at an All-Star level before the injury, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists during the 2024-25 season.

Stephen Curry became eligible for a contract extension with the Golden State Warriors over the weekend, with the franchise reportedly giving its superstar complete control over the decision.

Curry can sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension that would take him through his age-40 season, or choose a one-year maximum contract. ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that the Warriors are not actively negotiating with Curry, instead presenting him with a “menu” of options.

Waiting until the offseason could give Golden State greater flexibility to pursue free agents. Curry has repeatedly stated that he wants to spend the remainder of his career with the Warriors.

Mark Walter’s sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner has reportedly generated mixed reactions within the organization. According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, some employees are optimistic about the new ownership and were not particularly fond of the analytics-heavy approach implemented under Walter.

However, most Lakers staff members were reportedly largely unmoved. Walter had purchased the franchise for a then-record $10 billion just last summer before selling it for $12.5 billion. After a chaotic year filled with philosophical changes, new coworkers and procedures, another ownership transition reportedly felt familiar rather than shocking.

Anthony Davis’ future with the Washington Wizards could depend heavily on how the upcoming season begins. According to ESPN, the two sides have mutually agreed to wait until after the start of the regular season before discussing a contract extension.

Davis is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $275 million, but a poor start could reportedly lead the veteran big man to request a trade. His availability is also a major concern, as Davis has played just 71 games over the past two seasons, including only 20 last year.

Washington acquired him from Dallas at February’s trade deadline.

Contract negotiations between Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons remain at a standstill. According to Tim MacMahon, Detroit has offered the center a five-year contract worth around $35 million per year, but the proposal has not been enough to reach an agreement.

Duren is reportedly seeking a deal with an average annual salary in excess of $40 million and has rejected the Pistons’ initial offers. The 22-year-old is coming off his first All-Star season and was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, significantly increasing his contract value. Detroit remains determined to retain its starting center, but the gap between the two sides continues to be substantial.

Peyton Watson described the moment he finally received news about his contract situation with the Denver Nuggets as “bittersweet.” Throughout the summer, Watson went through the ups and downs of negotiations with the team and his agents while understanding the difficult financial position Denver was facing.

“Denver was between a rock and a hard place financially”

Watson explained that the Nuggets were dealing with significant financial pressure, particularly because of their luxury tax bill. At the same time, the free-agent market quickly dried up, leaving only a limited number of teams with available cap space.

“It was a bittersweet feeling when the news finally came. During the summer, just going through the ebbs and flows of negotiations and talks with the team and my agents and just understanding that we had gotten to a point where Denver was between a rock and a hard place financially.”

“A lot of teams were not willing to go through the war that restricted free agency is”

According to Watson, the market conditions also made things complicated for restricted free agents. Several teams had cap space early in free agency, but that space disappeared quickly, while many franchises were reluctant to engage in the complexities of restricted free agency.

“Everybody was aware of them facing the tax bill, and just kind of the way things shook out at the beginning with free agency, it was like a few teams had cap space, but then the cap just dried up super quick. A lot of teams were not willing to go through the war that restricted free agency is.”

“This could have stretched out all summer”

Watson also acknowledged that he was fortunate to reach a resolution relatively quickly, especially considering how long the situation could have lasted.

“You see, there are still some really, really good restricted free agents on the market. I’m lucky to have gotten a resolution with my situation as fast as I did. Like we talked about, this could have stretched out all summer.”

Stephen Curry expects to spend his entire NBA career with the Golden State Warriors. His current contract expires after the 2026-27 season, but both sides appear committed to continuing their partnership.

“There’s no question I want to be here the rest of my career, and I’m pretty sure that’s going to happen,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson. “The contract stuff will happen at the right time, and we’re not letting it become a distraction from our preparation.”

Curry has played all 17 of his NBA seasons with Golden State, winning four championships, two MVP awards and the 2022 Finals MVP. After missing significant time last season, the 38-year-old identified health as a crucial factor in the Warriors’ upcoming campaign.

Dalton Knecht is viewed as the most likely player on the Los Angeles Lakers to be traded before the start of the 2026-27 season. The young wing could therefore become one of the names to monitor closely on the trade market in the coming weeks.

The Lakers had previously explored a move for Jonathan Kuminga, offering Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaden Hardy in separate sign-and-trade packages. However, neither proposal led to a deal.

Knecht, selected in the 2024 NBA Draft, is set to earn $4.2 million during the 2026-27 season, making his contract relatively easy to include in a potential trade.