NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

[Who]

Golden State is prepared offer James the $15 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception this summer. That would involve the Warriors clearing some room under the first apron, as using the Non-Taxpayer MLE triggers a first-apron hard cap. However, Golden State is confident that they can create the room necessary to use the full exception.

The Warriors plan to clear additional spending power seems to revolve around Draymond Green opting out but re-signing on a new deal that lowers his salary for this season. It's important to note that Green and James share Klutch Sports as their agency.

[Who]

League sources said Ballmer has maintained a firm stance against a Leonard trade, preferring to continue building around his star forward.

ESPN

[jambr380]

Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz remain far apart on contract talks despite a five-year $140 million offer, sources told ESPN. The figure would represent the largest contract ever given to a center who had not yet earned an All-Star selection.

In 2024-25, he ranked second in the league in blocks (2.4) and fifth in rebounds (12.2) while averaging 11.1 points and shooting 66.3% from the floor.

That is insane.

That is just under $30mil a year. $28mil a year.

How much does Kessler expect to make? I wouldn't want him to pay him in excess of $30mil per season. As for BOS and Kessler potentially being a TPE target, UTA are already offering more money so that is a non-starter.

I kind-of want to see the Jazz start to do well. I hope they let Kessler go to the Lakers and don't tie themselves down to that kind-of contract.

There are people here that want to bring in Kessler. Hopefully they realize that Kessler at $30M+/yr is not the right decision. Dude is okay, but nothing special.

[Phantom255x]

Golden State is prepared offer James the $15 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception this summer. That would involve the Warriors clearing some room under the first apron, as using the Non-Taxpayer MLE triggers a first-apron hard cap. However, Golden State is confident that they can create the room necessary to use the full exception.

The Warriors plan to clear additional spending power seems to revolve around Draymond Green opting out but re-signing on a new deal that lowers his salary for this season. It's important to note that Green and James share Klutch Sports as their agency.

Even with the age of the roster and their stars too, I do think Lebron's best bet is Golden State. Weird to say with a Lakers team with Doncic, but GSW has Curry, Butler, Green (presumably lower salary), probably Porzingis or Horford, and still some solid role players in Gary Payton II, Santos, etc. It's a high risk-kind of move but they would still have more high-end talent than LAL. Injuries really sabotaged Golden State last year otherwise many still predicted they'd make the playoffs outright (no play-in). Butler as a 3rd option is a lot better then Reaves.

[jambr380]

If the thought or report is that the other team is DET, how would they even do this?  I don't think they have a big enough TPE to take in Hauser.  I believe they would have to send something back.

Another thought on this is that move up may be to make the pick more valuable to MIL in a Giannis trade.

I don't see our pick as relevant in a Giannis trade -- it's what another team would offer for getting JB.  If we had to throw in a first then #27 would likely suffice since a pick 5-6 slots higher is only slightly more valuable and not enough of a difference to kill a deal of that nature

I liked Vermont Green's take on this. If we assume Jaylen on his own is better than the Miami package, then why would we need to add anything to Jaylen in order to get a deal done? Maybe there are other teams Giannis would be willing to extend with, but we haven't heard who those teams are or what they have to offer.

So I agree, there's no reason for us to add any picks or players to Jaylen in a Giannis deal. And anything we do with our pick(s) should have no bearing on whether or not we try to acquire Giannis.