NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

[Celtics2021]

Hartenstein will resign with OKC for 5 years, $134 million.  That will put his first year at around $23 million, a savings of about $5.5 million from his team option year.  Combined with the trades of Wiggins and Joe, the Thunder have reduced their payroll by just under $26 million.  However, including their draft picks, they are still about $13 million over the second apron.  They can get under it (Dort has a team option of $17.7 million), but we will see if they are able to keep everyone or not.

Initial report appears to have been slightly wrong.  Apparently Hartenstein is signing for 3 year, $75 million, which means he will have made $134 total over his 5 years with the Thunder, including the two he has been there.  However, his first year of the deal will be roughly the same, so it is the same effect on the Thunder?s apron/cap/tax situation.

[Goldstar88]

I'm confused why they are discussing Jaylen trades with Portland, when honestly couldn't Portland have been a third team in the Giannis trade (Giannis to Boston, Jaylen to Portland, Portland Players + 3-4 combined first round picks from BOTH teams to Milwaukee)

Now what, they still want to do business? Sorry but I don't really see a trade I like. Clingan, Grant (salary), 1 of Scott/Sharpe and 3 first round picks seems like the offer, but sorry that's a bit underwhelming to me even though I love Clingan. I don't think POR would trade both Scott + Sharpe either, but I'd want both along with Clingan and Grant.

These Jaylen rumors are becoming tiresome. If you're gonna essentially dump him for say, 65 cents on the dollar, then Tatum might as well ask out tbh. I'm becoming more convinced this private equity ownership is gonna strip this thing further even beyond Jaylen, or they won't do enough around the edges either.

I?d probably trade JB for Scoot, Sharpe and Grant at this point.

Celtics:
Starters: White, Sharpe, Grant, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Scoot, Baylor, Hauser, Harper Jr, Hugo, Walsh, Garza

Blazers:
Starters: Dame, Jrue, Brown, Avdija, Clingan
Bench: Wesley, Murray, Thybule, Camara, Hansen

I was looking at the Giannis return and playing around with more ideas last night. Instead of Sharpe who I think is an empty stats player why not Deni Avdija. Sort of like Herro being a fringe all star, upside prospect in Scoot, Grant who you could argue is a negative contract at the very least neutral but has only 2 years left of his contract and can still be useful, and 2 Bucks picks they have in 2028, and 2030. I think you may even be able to squeeze out more. Giannis and Portis went for Herro, Ware, Jaquez Jr, Jakucionis, 3 first round picks, 1 pick swap and 1 second round pick.

I?d go with Grant, Avdija, Scoot, 2 of the Bucks picks as a starting point and not settle for anything less or just move on. Brown after all just finished 6th in MVP voting and proved himself as a number 1 option on an excellent team. We were talking about almost a 1 for 1 swap with Giannis or maybe add in a pick and look at the Giannis return.

Avdija is much better than Tyler Herro. Deni averaged 24pts/7ast/7rebs and was an All-star. He is also only 25 years old. They are not comparable players.

I?d love to get Avdija from Portland, but I don?t think the Blazers would move him. There is no way they?d give up Deni, Scoot, Grant and picks for JB considering he will be 30 this year and has a massive contract.

[JBcat]

I'm confused why they are discussing Jaylen trades with Portland, when honestly couldn't Portland have been a third team in the Giannis trade (Giannis to Boston, Jaylen to Portland, Portland Players + 3-4 combined first round picks from BOTH teams to Milwaukee)

Now what, they still want to do business? Sorry but I don't really see a trade I like. Clingan, Grant (salary), 1 of Scott/Sharpe and 3 first round picks seems like the offer, but sorry that's a bit underwhelming to me even though I love Clingan. I don't think POR would trade both Scott + Sharpe either, but I'd want both along with Clingan and Grant.

These Jaylen rumors are becoming tiresome. If you're gonna essentially dump him for say, 65 cents on the dollar, then Tatum might as well ask out tbh. I'm becoming more convinced this private equity ownership is gonna strip this thing further even beyond Jaylen, or they won't do enough around the edges either.

I?d probably trade JB for Scoot, Sharpe and Grant at this point.

Celtics:
Starters: White, Sharpe, Grant, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Pritchard, Scoot, Baylor, Hauser, Harper Jr, Hugo, Walsh, Garza

Blazers:
Starters: Dame, Jrue, Brown, Avdija, Clingan
Bench: Wesley, Murray, Thybule, Camara, Hansen

I was looking at the Giannis return and playing around with more ideas last night. Instead of Sharpe who I think is an empty stats player why not Deni Avdija. Sort of like Herro being a fringe all star, upside prospect in Scoot, Grant who you could argue is a negative contract at the very least neutral but has only 2 years left of his contract and can still be useful, and 2 Bucks picks they have in 2028, and 2030. I think you may even be able to squeeze out more. Giannis and Portis went for Herro, Ware, Jaquez Jr, Jakucionis, 3 first round picks, 1 pick swap and 1 second round pick.

I?d go with Grant, Avdija, Scoot, 2 of the Bucks picks as a starting point and not settle for anything less or just move on. Brown after all just finished 6th in MVP voting and proved himself as a number 1 option on an excellent team. We were talking about almost a 1 for 1 swap with Giannis or maybe add in a pick and look at the Giannis return.

Avdija is much better than Tyler Herro. Deni averaged 24pts/7ast/7rebs and was an All-star. He is also only 25 years old. They are not comparable players.

I?d love to get Avdija from Portland, but I don?t think the Blazers would move him. There is no way they?d give up Deni, Scoot, Grant and picks for JB considering he will be 30 this year and has a massive contract.

Herro averaged 24, 5, and 5 as a 25 year old all star 2 seasons ago, he was hurt a lot last season. I did give the edge to Deni but he has some defensive shortcomings as well. He?s a fringe all star as good as he?ll ever be. Deni had a breakout season last year but he had the ball in his hands an awful lot for a middling team. Portland didn?t have much of a choice and he shot only 32% from 3. He?s very very good, but not someone I?d want as a number 1 option.

That?s also forgetting Miami also gave up Ware a very promising big man, Jaquez Jr a good 6th man scorer at the least, and their interesting 1st round draft pick from last year some had pegged to go much higher in the draft. Then it makes more sense to me to ask for Deni and Scoot when you also factor in Grant?s likely negative value (how many teams would be willing to take the remainder of his contract).

[Who]

Brian Windhorst

"I would keep an eye on Max Strus. Dean Wade is going to be expensive, I think more expensive than the Cavs were hoping. I think Keon Ellis could be gone unless they lose Dean Wade. If they lose Dean Wade, I think they re-engineer the concept of Keon Ellis.

Max Strus's extension eligible has one year at $19 million left on his contract. I want to see if the Cavs are extending Max Strus or if they have to trade Max Strus. And the reason you would trade Max Strus is so that you could potentially afford to keep Dean Wade."

They should get rid of Max Strus. He is no longer good enough to be a high minute player on a title contender. His real value is closer to $5mil per annum. Maybe less.

It is unfortunate that CLE played him out of position all these years at SF where he is a liability as a defender & rebounder because he was a solid all-round SG. Now he has gotten too old and is too slow for the SG position. He is too slow defensively. He can't play that spot anymore - not at a high enough level. And he still can't play SF because he is too undersized. He is a tweener wing who can't play heavy minutes at either wing spot.

If they can dump him this off-season, great. If they can't, let him walk in 12 months time. He ain't good enough.

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Oh and don't overpay Dean Wade. That guy is seriously limited as a player. His offense is terrible. One of the worst offensive forwards in the NBA. He can't big minutes either.

He was killing their offense in the playoffs. And Mobley was killing their offense at the other forward slot. The two of them together created so much bad spacing for Harden & D Mitchell.

[Who]

All the Deni Avdija talk above ...

Deni Avdija has more trade value than Jaylen Brown.

Yes, Jaylen Brown is currently the better player. However, Deni is younger and much cheaper. The differences there are larger than the differences in their current performance.

You don't get Deni for Jaylen.

[Who]

The Rockets do, however, loom as a possible free agent destination for another one of Udoka's former players in Boston: Marcus Smart.

League sources say that Smart, who is expected to draw interest from Houston and possibly other teams in free agency, is very much giving consideration to declining his $5.4 million player option for next season with the Lakers before Monday's deadline to do so and then proceed to the open market

That is an interesting option for Houston. I like Smart to improve their backcourt defense along with the return of VanVleet who will also improve their guard defense. That would be a talented defensive tandem.

I worry about Smart's shooting & turnovers though. Houston are already lacking in shooting & quality ball-handling / passing. Smart did a lot of damage to LAL last year with his turnovers. His strong 1st round series against Houston made a lot of people forget about that.

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I would love to see Houston play smaller and move Jabari Smith Jr to the bench. In that scenario, I could see Smart starting for Houston if he joined them.

G: VanVleet, R Sheppard
G: M Smart, (Amen)
F: Amen Thompson, Okogie
F: Durant, Jabari Smith Jr
C: Sengun, S Adams, Capela

I wonder if they let Tari Eason going. He is a solid player but they have too many forwards. Too many dodgy shooters. Too many low skilled passers / ball-handlers. They are already loaded at forward without him.

You can fit Tari Eason in but you gotta play Amen Thompson at guard to do that. That makes you even worse at shooting, ball-handling, passing. 1-4 with the exception of Durant that has to be one of the worst teams in the league in terms of shooting, passing, ball-handling. How they expect to compete for a title with that ... I do not know.

[Goldstar88]

All the Deni Avdija talk above ...

Deni Avdija has more trade value than Jaylen Brown.

Yes, Jaylen Brown is currently the better player. However, Deni is younger and much cheaper. The differences there are larger than the differences in their current performance.

You don't get Deni for Jaylen.

I agree.

[satch]

There seems to be an increase in chatter surrounding Portland.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

All the Deni Avdija talk above ...

Deni Avdija has more trade value than Jaylen Brown.

Yes, Jaylen Brown is currently the better player. However, Deni is younger and much cheaper. The differences there are larger than the differences in their current performance.

You don't get Deni for Jaylen.

I don't agree. A top 10 player in the league always has more value than a 20-25 player in the league, unless the 20-25 player is young and projects the ability to get into the top 10.

I don't think there's a basketball mind out there that would project that future for Advija. Although I do think he is a good basketball player.

[Phantom255x]

Avdija would be untouchable from Portland's end and I don't blame them.

Clingan 1000% has to be in a returning package for Jaylen, period. Jerami Grant/Jrue Holiday (salary), Clingan, at least 1 of Scoot/Camara/Sharpe + 3-4 first round picks.

I wouldn't do it, but at minimum that's what's required.

[Vermont Green]

You can get there in terms of salary with Sharpe, Lillard, and Camara. Then get some of their picks to include with Hauser for another trade. 

Clingan would be great also but that may not work for POR. 

[JBcat]

All the Deni Avdija talk above ...

Deni Avdija has more trade value than Jaylen Brown.

Yes, Jaylen Brown is currently the better player. However, Deni is younger and much cheaper. The differences there are larger than the differences in their current performance.

You don't get Deni for Jaylen.

I think Deni?s numbers will come back to earth some once they have a better team especially Dame returning, with other young players improving. Deni had a huge statistical jump last season dominating the ball, and I don?t buy it long term. He was never thought of a high level prospect going back to his Washington days.

 Jaylen even turning 30 is signed for 3 more years, and I?d bet the house those 3 years will be better than Deni. We would also be taking on Grant?s 2 years remaining of 30 mil plus each year who only has really only cared about cashing checks than winning. I?d bet hardly any other team would take Grant?s salary off their hands. 

[Goldstar88]

According to Brian Robb of MassLive, Portland has no intention of including Deni Avdija in a package for the former NBA Finals MVP despite its reported interest in Brown.

All-Star Deni Avdija would not be on the table in any trade talks, league sources tell MassLive and it would be tough for Boston to pry away Donovan Clingan as well. The Blazers do not have strong center depth behind Clingan with Robert Williams set to hit free agency so trading Clingan for Brown would simply create another hole on the roster.?

Robb noted that any realistic trade framework would likely begin elsewhere on Portland?s roster.

That leaves a big contract like Jerami Grant ($34.2 million) a likely part of any offer for salary matching along with some other young intriguing options as potential parts of a deal. Guards Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe could be deemed as expendable amid Damian Lillard?s return. Toumani Camara will certainly be someone that Boston asks about as well since he?s on a team friendly long-term deal.

Blazers view Deni Avdija as untouchable despite Jaylen Brown trade interest

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Is Brian Robb plugged into the full NBa bough to know what Portland?s intentions are?

Not that I disagree with his opinion, but I don?t see this as any insider knowledge.

[Phantom255x]

Is Brian Robb plugged into the full NBa bough to know what Portland?s intentions are?

Not that I disagree with his opinion, but I don?t see this as any insider knowledge.

He's legit. I also listen to him on Gasper & Murray and he's been with the organization for a while. I'd still consider Himmelsbach the "Shams" of the local reporters, but B-Robb is close.

I still think if Clingan is not on the table, they shouldn't consider it. I'd even be willing to sacrifice a first round pick if it meant getting him (meaning instead of taking back 3 first rounders, drop it to 2)