NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

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https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/2072134354235498719

Free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, with a player option for the second season, sources tell ESPN.

Kennard replaces some of that shooting they lost when they traded Royce O'Neale and Grayson Allen. Two high caliber three point shooters. Also gives PHX a skilled forward off the bench rather lower skilled athletic hustle forwards.

G: Devin Booker, Collin Gillispie
G: Jalen Green, Jordan Goodwin, Koby Brea
F: Dillon Brooks, Luke Kennard, Koa Peat
F: Miles Bridges, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming
C: Mark Williams, O Ighodaro, K Maluach

Interesting group. Different than last year. Bigger now with Booker likely to return to guard to make way for another 6-6/6-7 230lb forward in Miles Bridges alongside Dillon Brooks.

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Lakers are likely gonna sign Mamu and Grimes, then add Kessler. But they lost Kennard and probably will also lose Hachimura and Smart too.

Mamu the new Maxi Kleber for Luka.

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Shams Charania

Free agent forward Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN.

Several contenders pursued the former Cavaliers forward, who has become an indispensable defending and shooting frontcourt piece.

I wonder what the idea is here. Do they intend to start him? Or use him as a backup big man?

I wonder if Kelly Oubre is moving on and if Dean Wade is their new starting forward. Likely at PF with PG13 moving back to SF.

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So Cleveland have no quality big men now. Thomas Bryant is their next man up. Nae'qwan Tomlin as a hustle PF. That is it.

They have no real backup forwards either. Just a bunch of guards. Merrill, Strus, Schroder. Or maybe they start Strus again. That would give them Jaylon Tyson as a backup forward.

[snively]

So where does LBJ end up?

I would like to see him on Denver with Jokic.  Fun combo and keeps him out west.

I hope he doesn't go back to Cleveland.

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Shams Charania: Free agent center Zach Collins has agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract extension to stay with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN.

Collins appeared in just 10 games last season due to a left wrist fracture and a sprained toe. Collins averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 18.4 minutes.

What has he ever done to warrant being more than a minimum contract guy?

K.C. Johnson: Deal is for two years, $17M with team option for second season, per source

At least the 2nd year is a team option.

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Anthony Slater: Pair of relevant notes on Kristaps Porzingis' new contract, per sources. 1. Only $3 million is guaranteed for the second season. 2. He's immediately trade eligible

So it is really only a 1yr deal given how little of that 2nd season is guaranteed. Controlled risk. Necessary given his health.

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Yossi Gozlan: The Bulls can give Zach Collins this contract with their $9.4 million room mid-level. They should still maintain $32 million in cap space.

I wonder what they will do with that cap space.

They have been linked to Norm Powell.

They could be an interesting trade partner for Jaylen Brown. Likely Caleb Wilson and some cap fodder. Future picks. It would be a rebuilding trade. I don't know that they can make an offer for Jaylen outside of Caleb Wilson. Josh Giddey doesn't feel like enough. Maybe with enough picks if those POR negotiations indicate anything.

Update: KC Johnson says CHI only have $23mil cap space

K.C. Johnson: Bulls at roughly $23M of cap space with room exception of $9.4M at disposal and 13 players projected to be under contract

[Who]

Chicago Bulls

G: Tre Jones, Rob Dillingham
G: Josh Giddey
F: Matas Buzelis, I Okoro, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue
F: Caleb Wilson, Pat Williams, Jalen Smith
C: Nic Claxton, Zach Collins, Leonard Miller

Those guys need some guards. They only got 2 guards on the roster. Both small PGs. No SGs. Josh Giddey is a forward. They have 9 forwards. Leonard Miller is a forward as well. 9 forwards, 2 PGs, 2 Cs.

Pat Williams still has 3 years at $18mil per year.

[Goldstar88]

Michael Scotto: Sources: The Portland Trail Blazers signed Robert Williams to a 3-year, $44 million deal, which includes $5 million partially guaranteed Year 2, and is fully non-guaranteed Year 3. Years 2 and 3 become fully guaranteed if he plays 50+ regular-season games in the prior season.
x.com

[Jiri Welsch]

Michael Scotto: Sources: The Portland Trail Blazers signed Robert Williams to a 3-year, $44 million deal, which includes $5 million partially guaranteed Year 2, and is fully non-guaranteed Year 3. Years 2 and 3 become fully guaranteed if he plays 50+ regular-season games in the prior season.
x.com

Lots of guys don?t want to come to Boston!

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Philly have $152 million tied up in Embiid, Maxey & PG13. They have another $11.6mil in Edgecombe. That is $164 million. That is the salary cap. With 4 players. Dean Wade becomes their next highest contract at $9mil or whatever he starts at. So I presume he will be a starter for them then.

G: Maxey
G: Edgecombe
F: PG13
F: Dean Wade
C: Embiid

They still have key free agents in Q Grimes, Drummond, Kelly Oubre. I wonder if all 3 are likely to leave. Maybe they manage to keep one of them.

Their bench stinks - Adem Bona is their best bench piece. Dominick Barlow their 2nd best bench player. Justin Edwards. Jabari Walker. Johni Broome. Trendon Watford. Most of these guys are PFs or Cs. Justin Edwards a wing. And their rookie Labaron Philon Jr. A guard. That is probably another $17mil. 

That might be the worst bench in the league.

That takes them to $190 million. Luxury tax at $200mil. First apron at $209mil. It will be interesting to see what else they do. Whether they manage to keep any of their own FAs or not.

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Keith Smith has the exact cap figures

Dean Wade's contract will come out of the Non-Taxpayer MLE for the Philadelphia 76ers.

They'll now be hard-capped at the first apron. Sixers have roughly $16.6M in space under the first apron with two open standard roster spots.

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NY Times

Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren had a productive meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with them again on Wednesday morning, league sources told The Athletic.

Duren was told by the Lakers in the meeting that they view him as a maximum-salary level player, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.

I like Duren for the Lakers. They already have enough offense from Luka & A Reaves. They can live with their 3rd star being a lower volume scorer. Plus Duren works great in the PnR game with both guys. He is the lob threat Luka wants.

Same with W Kessler. Either one of them would be great for the Lakers. Give them a strong foundation. Probably take another year to get the supporting cast in place (in order to become a title contender again). Not much room left to fill the supporting cast after the pay one of those two guys all that money.

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Unrestricted free agent Quentin Grimes will not be back in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform, according to league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.

So Grimes is in play for those hoping BOS will sign him. A bigger guard with some offense versus the smaller ones like Anfernee Simons & Colin Sexton.

Grimes is heavily linked to the LA Lakers though.

Shams Charania

Free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic has agreed to a one-year deal with the Houston Rockets, sources tell ESPN. Rockets executives recruited Bogdanovic tonight and now land an established, playoff-tested shooter for his 10th NBA season.

I think he is kaput. I don't think he does anything for HOU. Frankly, I am surprised anyone gave him contract. Nevermind doing so on Day One.