Summer league is now underway, and that means personnel from all 30 teams are gathered in Las Vegas. What could go wrong? Well, nothing, as far as the NBA trade rumor mill is concerned. Let’s look at the league chatter …
- One Western Conference executive suggested this week that the Mavericks would be a team to watch for the remainder of the summer. “Seems like they’re open to moving anyone over 25 except Kyrie (Irving),” the executive said. “They want players back, not just picks, though, and that makes it trickier.”
The players who are over 25 are familiar names on the NBA trade rumor mill: PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall. The Mavericks are not facing salary cap pressure, and they’re hoping to be more competitive in 2026-27 (they owe their first-rounder, Top-2 protected, to Charlotte), so they’re not desperate to dump players for the sake of dumping them. Thompson, at age 36, could be bought out later this summer.
… - That Cavaliers are confident they can find a deal for Max Strus and/or Dennis Schroder once they know what LeBron James’ plans are, but the question will be whether and how much extra capital the Cavs send out? They can deal first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, or send out swaps in 2030-33. They have no second-round picks until 2032, when they have Sacramento’s incoming. There is a 2033 second-rounder on the board, too. The Hornets are a possible landing spot for Strus, a solid veteran leader and 3-point shooter.
… - Jonathan Kuminga played last season at a little more than $24 million, and is intent on not going backwards on his payscale–Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports that Kuminga wants $25 million annually for a sign-and-trade to join the Lakers, who have no interest in paying Kuminga that. The Hawks turned down a $24 million team option, and there is not much of a market left for Kuminga if he can’t land a deal with the Lakers.
… - In waiving Dalano Banton, the Celtics put themselves under the luxury tax, and while there is still strong fan sentiment for making a deal that uses the $27.7 million traded player exception from the Anfernee Simons deal, it’s likely that the team is done with transactions for the summer and will use next season to get out of “luxury tax repeater” status. We hate removing a team from the NBA trade rumor mill, but that appears to be Boston’s destiny here.
NBA Trade Rumors: Still Aspiring
The NBA is, rightfully so, taking a thwacking for its handling of the Aspiration scandal, and the fact that the team is forcing the Clippers and Raptors to hold off on the Kawhi Leonard trade until after a decision has been rendered–which should come later this month–raises a very big question: Why were the teams not informed of this stipulation before they agreed to make a trade at the opening of free agency?
One thing that makes this thorny is that the league has a wider concern that the SEC and/or the Department of Justice could get involved depending on the outcome. The current US government has been more than a little vindictive against perceived enemies, and the NBA and its players would qualify as perceived enemies. The league has to thread the needle–punishing the Clippers without attracting federal investigators.
Enough of that. On to the NBA Trade Rumor big board …
NBA Trade Rumors: The Star Market
Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball … and maybe Kawhi Leonard (?) have been traded. Will there be other star deals?
Kevin Durant, Rockets. (Remaining contract: two years, $90 million, player option.) The Pistons continue to be the only team really connected to Durant in a meaningful way, though it’s fair to question how meaningful the interest is. Durant is dropping hints about wanting to play for Detroit. But it’s complicated. Detroit is naturally hesitant about a 37-year-old veteran who has been a headache pretty much everywhere he has been. Oh, and you would have to pay him $90 million over the next two years at a time when the Pistons are trying to work out a deal for Jalen Duren and have an Ausar Thompson contract extension to work out.
Jamal Murray, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: three years, $160 million.) Dealing Murray might be too much to ask of the Nuggets, but there is a financial crunch in Denver and sending Murray away would help the team reset and build a roster more focused no Nikola Jokic. Still, the Nuggets are more likely to move off of Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon or Christian Braun. What they do next might be decided by how the Peyton Watson situation plays out.
Anthony Davis, Wizards. (Remaining contract: two years, $121 million, including player option.) The Warriors appear to be the only immediate potential suitor for Davis, and they’d only make such a deal as a means to signing LeBron James. But is it worth giving up two first-round picks to get Davis, who is among the league’s most injury-prone stars? And if Davis wants an extension on top of that–it’s all a bit much to ask of the Warriors. The bet here is still that Davis stays put, and perhaps is moved at next year’s deadline.
Kyrie Irving, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: two years, $81 million.) The Mavericks have not been looking for Irving trades, and their position is they intend to keep him. He’s been a positive force in the locker room and has been getting healthier.
Jimmy Butler, Warriors. (Remaining contract: one year, $57 million.) If Davis moves to the Warriors, then it will mean Butler has to go out. The Warriors have told Butler he won’t be dealt. Would they break their word to make a blockbuster deal? Doubtful (possible, but doubtful.) Butler has turned up in NBA trade rumors, but he is probably out until Christmas or later as he recovers from January ACL surgery, and there are not many teams looking to add a rehabbing 36-year-old to their mix.
Anthony Davis Getty
NBA Trade Rumors: 25 (or 26) and Under
It’s hard to bring in a young star–or even a young potential star–on the trade market. But there could be some wrangling for these guys, the 25-and-under (OK, 26 for Trey Murphy) crowd.
Moses Moody, Warriors. (Remaining contract: two years, $26 million.) Moody has developed into a valuable piece for Golden State, but a nasty knee injury could keep him out for most of next season. The Warriors are short on time, so could move Moody to make room for LeBron James, or for another potential move. Even with the injury, Moody’s upside and reasonable contract make him an asset.
Jalen Duren, Pistons. (Remaining contract: restricted free agent.) Sign-and-trade options for Duren are all but extinguished–were the Pistons ever really weighing a deal with the Kings for Domantas Sabonis? The Pistons have made moves to be able to give Duren more money, and that’s the likely way this all plays out.
Trey Murphy, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: three years, $88 million.) It does look increasingly like Murphy will stay put. He is a favorite in NBA trade rumors, there are questions on how serious New Orleans would be about trading him. One exec says it will take a Desmond Bane-style offer (four first-round picks) to pry him from New Orleans, though that price has dropped a bit. Still, there’s been no movement yet.
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: four years, $223 million.) The roster is far too expensive, and if LeBron James comes aboard, the guy who will most likely suffer is Mobley–James will need 15 or so shots per game, and will take away touches from Mobley. The Cavs are partly at fault for not paving the way for Mobley’s development. But they’re in win-now mode, and he might be better off elsewhere. Cleveland could take back a good haul for him.
Peyton Watson, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: restricted free agent.) Reports suggest that the Clippers are a player in a potential Peyton Watson deal–they could make him a credible offer that the Nuggets would have to match, or could work out a sign-and-trade with Denver. Watson was earlier connected with the Nets, but that appears to be dead.
Eastern Conference Targets: Jarrett Allen on the Block?
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: three years, $90 million.) If the Cavs want to make a move to entice LeBron James to Cleveland, Allen could be the bait. It’s more likely that Allen gets traded than Evan Mobley, and the Cavaliers could get some relief and a contributor. Allen is a standard offensive center but is a valued rim-runner who can protect the paint.
Max Strus, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: one year, $16 million.) The Cavs are trying hard to fit everything under the second apron, and that likely means moving off Strus, if they can find a taker. He would be sacrificed to get LeBron James in.
Dennis Schroder, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: one year, $14.6 million.) Schroder has played for 11 teams in the NBA so far, and the Cavs would be open to making it 12 as they seek to duck the second apron and still stay in the contending picture.
Myles Turner, Bucks. (Remaining contract: three years, $80 million.) Milwaukee has little incentive to keep Turner, but reports suggest they are not shopping him. The Bucks don’t control their next draft picks in the four coming drafts, so they can’t exactly tank or seek to get into the lottery. Still, the Bucks have more to gain by playing young bigs Dieng and Kel’El Ware significant minutes so he could keep popping up in NBA trade rumors.
Michael Porter Jr., Nets. (Remaining contract: one year, $40 million, partial guarantee.) Rumors have started cropping up about Porter Jr., but the Nets have not gotten the kind of draft-asset offers they’d hoped for. New draft rules mean the Nets will want to be competitive next season, so Porter could stick around and be dealt at the February deadline.
Derrick White, Celtics. (Remaining contract: three years, $98 million.) The Celtics were not as disappointed in White and his terrible shooting season (39.4% from the field) as the rest of us, so it is doubtful they will move him in the end. But after the Brown trade, the door is at least open.
Getty Max Strus
Western Conference Targets: Kings Ransom
Keldon Johnson, Spurs. (Remaining contract: one year, $17.5 million.) The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is heading into the final season of his contract, and San Antonio is likely to phase out his minutes in favor of younger players. He is still a valued leader on the team, but he could be a chip worth cashing in if the Spurs can land a first-round pick.
Domantas Sabonis, Kings. (Remaining contract: two years, $93 million.) Sabonis has had some nibbles, but no bites. There was a rumor that the Hornets were planning to trade for him, but that proved fruitless. Then there was the Jalen Duren sign-and-trade with the Pistons, which was far-fetched from the beginning. This one might have to wait until the season gets going.
Jrue Holiday, Blazers. (Remaining contract: two years, $72 million, with player option.) Certainly, something has to give in Portland with the arrival of Morant. Holiday is not getting any younger, but he has value around the NBA.
Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves. (Remaining contract: two years, $74 million, including player option.) The Wolves might be a longshot for LeBron James, but they’re holding steady to see what happens with him going forward. If he lands elsewhere, the Wolves will need to evaluate their frontcourt and could find that dealing Gobert, who is up for an extension this summer, is their best bet to bring in younger options.
Zach LaVine, Kings. (Remaining contract: one year, $49 million.) LaVine picked up the player option worth $49 million. There was some hope that he could be waived, but after the Kings let DeMar DeRozan go, they’ll keep LaVine on the books and hope they can find a place to dump him.
Aaron Gordon, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: three years, $110 million.) Gordon has struggled to stay healthy, but is still a valued connective piece when he plays. He needs to be a No. 3/4 option on a good team, and teams aren’t falling over themselves to cough up assets for that, and the Nuggets have not pushed hard for a trade.
Daniel Gafford, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: 3 years, $54 million.) Gafford will be 28 in October, and with the Mavs focused on getting younger, moving him along has been one of the team’s top options. The concern is whether the guy the Mavs want to be their stalwart center–Dereck Lively II–can stay healthy. Lively has played 98 games in three seasons.
PJ Washington, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: 4 years, $90 million.) Like Gafford, Washington is aging out of the Mavericks’ timeline, as he turns 28 this summer. He’s a stretch 4 who plays good defense, but his shooting has been suspect–he made just 32.5% of his 3s last year. Washington’s extension kicks in this year, though, so he might be a better trade target down the line.
Klay Thompson, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: one year, $17 million.) Another aging Mav! Thompson does not fit Dallas’s timeline, and if the Mavs can get anything–youth, a few second-rounders–for him, they will. He’s still a 38% 3-point shooter. The addition of Tarik Biberovic is more incentive to move Thompson.
Cam Johnson, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: one year, $23 million.) Johnson has been a disaster in Denver, and he has been a prominent feature on the NBA trade rumor mill for years now. He still has enough of a reputation around the league to warrant trade interest, but a report from The Stein Line suggests the Nuggets are not going that route … yet.
What’s Been Done: NBA’s Blockbusters
The NBA has had a busy summer, interspersed with some controversy. Here’s what’s happened so far …
Celtics-Sixers Trade
Jaylen Brown, Celtics. (Remaining contract: three years, $183 million.) The Celtics set out to find a package of four first-round picks or a young superstar, but came away with about half that. A 2028 first-round pick that could convert to a swap, Philly’s 2031 unprotected first-rounder, and two second-round picks.
Paul George, Sixers. (Remaining contract: two years, $110 million, including player option). George has been healthy for just 78 games over the last two seasons, and the Celtics could look to trade him off, either in the short-term or the longer term.
Heat-Bucks Trade
The deal that kicked off the summer was the one most expected to be expanded, but wound up staying a two-teamer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Remaining contract: two years, $120 million.) TRADED to Heat. The deal is done, and Antetokounmpo is off to Miami. Bobby Portis also is going to Miami. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis go to Milwaukee. Bucks get the 13th pick in the draft and future first-rounders, in 2031 and 2033, plus a future pick swap and a second-round pick.
Bobby Portis, Bucks. (Remaining contract: two years, $30 million, including player option.) TRADED to Heat. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are going to Miami. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis go to Milwaukee. Bucks get the 13th pick in the draft and future first-rounders, in 2031 and 2033, plus a future pick swap and a second-round pick.
Tyler Herro, Heat. (Remaining contract: one year, $33 million.) TRADED to Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are going to Miami. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis go to Milwaukee. Bucks get the 13th pick in the draft and future first-rounders, in 2031 and 2033, plus a future pick swap and a second-round pick. But the Bucks could still seek to move Herro before the trade becomes official.
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat
Hornets-Timberwolves-Nets-Bulls Trade
The Wolves have combined their two major transactions, which may be expanded further still before the whole deal is finalized.
LaMelo Ball. (Remaining contract: three years, $131 million.) TRADED to Timberwolves. Ball will connect with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota as the team tries to give the offense a strong No. 2 scoring option without moving off of Jaden McDaniels. The Hornets will get Naz Reid and a first-round pick in 2033, plus three swaps and three second-round picks. This deal was folded into the Wolves’ Julius Randle-Nets trade.
Naz Reid. (Remaining contract: three years, $103 million). TRADED to Hornets. The Wolves did not want to trade Reid, of course, and now are faced with a severe weakness in the frontcourt. But they feel the cost of replacing him was outweighed by the Ball opportunity. Again, this deal was folded into the Wolves’ Julius Randle-Nets trade.
Julius Randle. (Remaining contract: two years, $69 million including player option.) TRADED to Nets. Randle is heading to the Nets after a miserable playoff performance sent up subtle shots from teammates and wide calls to ship out Randle. The Wolves did so, and used the resulting flexibility to re-sign Dosunmu and acquire LaMelo Ball.
Nic Claxton. (Remaining contract: two years, $42 million.) TRADED to Bulls. The Bulls gave up next to nothing as the Nets were looking to simply clear Claxton off their books. Chicago is hoping for a bounce back now that he is out of Brooklyn.
Grizzlies-Blazers trade
Ja Morant. (Remaining contract: two years, $86 million.) TRADED to Blazers. Portland took the gamble on Morant, sending out Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, finally giving some closure to the Grizz.
Jerami Grant. (Remaining contract: two years, $70 million.) TRADED to Memphis. Memphis could ride it out with Grant, but might look to flip him elsewhere, perhaps during the season.
Clippers-Pistons-Grizzlies-Mavericks-Wizards-Bucks Trade
A classic NBA deal that started as Isaiah Stewart going to Memphis, but has ballooned since. We’ll arrange this one by team for clarity’s sake.
GRIZZLIES GET: Isaiah Stewart, D’Angelo Russell, AJ Johnson, five second-round picks. (Lose: Santi Aldama.)
PISTONS GET: John Collins, Taurean Prince, Gary Harris. (Lose: Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Marcus Sasser.)
CLIPPERS GET: Trade exception. (Lose: John Collins.)
WIZARDS GET: Khris Middleton. (Lose: D’Angelo Russell.)
BUCKS GET: Caris LeVert. (Lose: Taurean Prince, Gary Harris, AJ Johnson.)
MAVERICKS GET: Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser. (Lose: Khris Middleton.)
Raptors-Clippers Trade
Now, the NBA has undone this trade as it works out punishment for the Aspiration scandal, but it’s still likely to get done once that situation is settled.
Kawhi Leonard. (Remaining contract: one year, $50 million.) TRADED to Toronto. Despite the lingering Aspiration scandal, the Clippers moved Leonard to the Raptors for a package of Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks (2031 and 2033), plus a swap and two second-round picks.
Brandon Ingram. (Remaining contract: two years, $81 million, team option.) TRADED to LA Clippers. Ingram heads to LA in the Kawhi Leonard deal.
Pistons-Thunder Trade
Isaiah Joe. (Remaining contract: Two years, $22.6 million, including team option.) TRADED to Pistons. Joe was dealt to the Pistons in a salary dump as Oklahoma City wrestles with cutting payroll while still maintaining status as a Finals contender. Joe averaged 11.1 points and made 42.3% of his 3s last year.
Suns-Hornets Trade
Miles Bridges. (Remaining contract: One year, $22 million) TRADED to Suns. The interest in Bridges was limited because of his 2022 domestic abuse case, but the Suns decided they could stomach that history. The Hornets are sending the Suns a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a 2033 first-rounder.
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