NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

[Who]

Dorian Finney-Smith signed a 4 year, $52,705,000 contract with the Houston Rockets, including $26,035,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $13,176,250.

I did not realize that only the first 2 years of DFS' contract was guaranteed. Last 2 years non-guaranteed. So effectively he has only 1 guaranteed year left on his contract / is an expiring contract.

He could be a guy worth taking a swing on. If we don't like the long term options with our MLE / TPE, he could be a low risk option while preserving our cap flexibility moving forward.

If he gets back to the levels he had in the past, he would be an excellent 3+D forward who can backup Jaylen & Tatum. If he cannot get back to those levels, he is a 1yr contract who we get rid of in 12 months time.

DFS only managed to play in 37 games and was deep in the rotation at only 16 minutes per game.  And he stunk.  If the Rockets want to send something useful with his contract, I suppose, but the Celtics have probably 100 better options than just trading for him outright.  Look for DFS to just be waived and stretched if they do not find a trade partner.  I think the Celtics will be able to kick the tires on him as a free agent if they are so inclined, for a lot less money.

Yes, DFS was terrible last season. He had an ankle surgery, missed training camp and part of the season. Never got going. His shot was off all year. According to Rockets fans his defense was also worse than expected. He lost playing time and eventually became a regular DNP.

The question for me is whether is this is the new normal for DFS or whether he will recover (partially or fully). He was fantastic before the surgery. He was a James Posey-esque player.

---------

I wouldn't have DFS near the top of my off-season options but I would have him as a fall-back option. I like the idea of giving him a 2nd chance over paying Quintin Grimes the full MLE. I don't want to be in the hole for $60+mil / 4 years for a player I am not convinced about. I'd rather than a 1 year risk on DFS. If he recovers, great we got a Posey-esque guy on a good contract. If he doesn't recover, ehh who cares, it was one year and then he is gone. Nothing gained, nothing lost. He won't cost anything to acquire.

It just depends on what else is available. If it is something worth doing or not. If not, I would look at DFS as a fall-back option.

[Donoghus]

Marcus is a FA

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
3m
Lakers guard Marcus Smart has declined his $5.4 million player option and will become a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

[Celtics2021]

Marcus is a FA

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
3m
Lakers guard Marcus Smart has declined his $5.4 million player option and will become a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

I would always be happy to have him back.

[Who]

Marcus is a FA

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
3m
Lakers guard Marcus Smart has declined his $5.4 million player option and will become a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

Great news for LAL. They should try and get as far away from M Smart as they can. His poor shooting and turnover heavy game is a terrible fit alongside Luka & A Reaves.

[Celtics2021]

Marcus is a FA

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
3m
Lakers guard Marcus Smart has declined his $5.4 million player option and will become a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

Great news for LAL. They should try and get as far away from M Smart as they can. His poor shooting and turnover heavy game is a terrible fit alongside Luka & A Reaves.

Haha, the expectation is that he will return on a more expensive deal.  With the ball largely not in his hands, thanks to Luka, the Lakers were 10 points better with him on the floor than off.  I think they will keep them.

[Who]

Marcus is a FA

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
3m
Lakers guard Marcus Smart has declined his $5.4 million player option and will become a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

Great news for LAL. They should try and get as far away from M Smart as they can. His poor shooting and turnover heavy game is a terrible fit alongside Luka & A Reaves.

Haha, the expectation is that he will return on a more expensive deal.  With the ball largely not in his hands, thanks to Luka, the Lakers were 10 points better with him on the floor than off.  I think they will keep them.

That surprises me. I thought he was dreadful for them.

[Phantom255x]

Wow, looks like Golden State is trying to get Davis and Lebron to join Curry + Draymond and create a Big 4. Or Big 3 + Draymond lol. Butler probably has to get traded to facilitate but that'd be interesting. Scary if this were 10 years ago, but even now I'm curious to see. A lot hinges on health given everyone's age. But those 4 + Horford, probably Santos/Pod/Yaxel could be a Top-4 team in the West. OKC/SAS are still the Top-2 easily IMO

[Chief]

Wow, looks like Golden State is trying to get Davis and Lebron to join Curry + Draymond and create a Big 4. Or Big 3 + Draymond lol. Butler probably has to get traded to facilitate but that'd be interesting. Scary if this were 10 years ago, but even now I'm curious to see. A lot hinges on health given everyone's age. But those 4 + Horford, probably Santos/Pod/Yaxel could be a Top-4 team in the West. OKC/SAS are still the Top-2 easily IMO

Sounds like something LeBron would do.

[Donoghus]

Wow, looks like Golden State is trying to get Davis and Lebron to join Curry + Draymond and create a Big 4. Or Big 3 + Draymond lol. Butler probably has to get traded to facilitate but that'd be interesting. Scary if this were 10 years ago, but even now I'm curious to see. A lot hinges on health given everyone's age. But those 4 + Horford, probably Santos/Pod/Yaxel could be a Top-4 team in the West. OKC/SAS are still the Top-2 easily IMO

Hopefully, Washington hardballs the hell out of it if this thing actually has traction.

[Who]

I am watching an ESPN from a day or so ago. Before Draymond opted out. Windy was saying to watch Draymond closely. That it is odd that Draymond hasn't made a decision about his option yet. That everyone expected him to pick it up. Windy was also talking about LeBron avoiding having a meeting with the LA Lakers despite LAL requesting a meeting. LeBron hasn't made himself available for one yet.

So Windy was saying watch Draymond because Draymond and LeBron are both part of Klutch Sports and Windy thought the agency maybe trying to organize this team up in GSW.

Insinuating that it is not GSW doing moving and shaking but Klutch Sports orchestrating all this and convincing GSW about their plan. That LeBron is driving this in the background through Klutch Sports.

Interesting.

[Celtics2021]

Wow, looks like Golden State is trying to get Davis and Lebron to join Curry + Draymond and create a Big 4. Or Big 3 + Draymond lol. Butler probably has to get traded to facilitate but that'd be interesting. Scary if this were 10 years ago, but even now I'm curious to see. A lot hinges on health given everyone's age. But those 4 + Horford, probably Santos/Pod/Yaxel could be a Top-4 team in the West. OKC/SAS are still the Top-2 easily IMO

Hopefully, Washington hardballs the hell out of it if this thing actually has traction.

Seriously.  Taking on a 37 year-old coming off an ACL who makes $56 million a year does not come free, even if AD is not at peak value.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Wow, looks like Golden State is trying to get Davis and Lebron to join Curry + Draymond and create a Big 4. Or Big 3 + Draymond lol. Butler probably has to get traded to facilitate but that'd be interesting. Scary if this were 10 years ago, but even now I'm curious to see. A lot hinges on health given everyone's age. But those 4 + Horford, probably Santos/Pod/Yaxel could be a Top-4 team in the West. OKC/SAS are still the Top-2 easily IMO

Hopefully, Washington hardballs the hell out of it if this thing actually has traction.

It is irrelevant even if the trade comes to fruition. They are too old and injury prone to compete for a title. By the end of this year, Curry will be 39, Green will be 37, LeBron will be 42 and Horford will be 41.

If I am LeBron, the only team i would leave the Lakers for would be the Cavaliers.

[Who]

If I am LeBron, the only team i would leave the Lakers for would be the Cavaliers.

I was watching Road Trippin' podcast - Perk, Richard Jefferson, C Frye.

Both Frye and RJ were saying that LeBron should stay far away from CLE. Both ex-Cavs and played with LeBron there. Both like to see CLE do well. So that surprised me. Their reasoning was they think there are bad things in that locker room. That stuff isn't right. That LeBron would be walking into a poisoned environment. Bad juju.

So stay far away from that mess. That would end up being a deeply unpleasant experience for LeBron to try and coax that group of players into playing together and playing hard. Just avoid it.

I was surprised by that take. And after hearing it, I agree with them. LeBron should avoid CLE. That team did not look right at all in the playoffs after the addition of Harden. There are issues with Harden / D Mitchell. Issues with D Mitchell / E Mobley. Issues with the supporting cast. Issues with their defense. That team does look like a minefield. A minefield best avoided.

[Donoghus]

A couple of news worthy items

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
1m
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal has declined his $5.6 million player option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent, Mark Bartelstein of
@PrioritySports
 tells ESPN.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
1m
The Sacramento Kings are trading guard Devin Carter and a future second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN.

[Who]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
1m
The Sacramento Kings are trading guard Devin Carter and a future second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN.

Wow, talk about selling off a recent late lotto pick on the cheap. I wish Brad had of acquired him. I love his defense. He is a jump-shot away from being one of the great glue guy guards in the league. Well worth taking a shot on.

And Atlanta? ... they just drafted Kingston Flemings and have CJ McCollum. And NAW. D Carter won't even play there. He might have played here. Dang it!