NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

[Redz]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
20m
The Denver Nuggets are waiving veteran center Jonas Valanciunas, sources tell ESPN. Valanciunas is expected to receive interest from multiple NBA teams.

For much of his career he's been a good rebounder and skilled scorer around the rim. He's fallen off some with age (he's 34 now), but maybe he'd be a good guy to have on the bench for the right price?

He played pretty well when Jokic was out for a while.

[Who]

Michael Scotto: Khris Middleton signed a 3-year, $17.61 million deal. It's fully guaranteed for the 26-27 season ($5.59 million), partially guaranteed for the 27-28 season ($909K guaranteed of $5.87 million), and non-guaranteed for the 28-29 season, as part of a sign-and-trade to the Wizards.

[Donoghus]

Michael Scotto: Khris Middleton signed a 3-year, $17.61 million deal. It's fully guaranteed for the 26-27 season ($5.59 million), partially guaranteed for the 27-28 season ($909K guaranteed of $5.87 million), and non-guaranteed for the 28-29 season, as part of a sign-and-trade to the Wizards.

At least they're not breaking the bank for a guy that's cooked.

[No Nickname]

Marc Stein: The Lakers are now pursuing both a wing defender and a backup big man after lining up a Deandre Ayton-to- Washington trade which adds $2 million in financial wiggle room for their summer business, league sources sa

Is that Ayton trade official? Or just a rumour?

Oh, it is real.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trading center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday.

Good deal for Washington. They needed big man. They now have 3 legit bigs in AD, A Sarr and Ayton.

Questionable deal for LAL. Ayton, talent wise, would be one of the best backup centers in the league. However, I can see reasons to be worried about his commitment in a bench role. His effort may fall off the map. LAL already lost Jaxson Hayes in FA to Utah. He was solid middle of the pack backup center.

I wonder if this means they are planning on Mamu being the backup center for LAL next season.

Dan Woike: A name that's come up when talking to rival teams about a player who would fit the Lakers' current roster has been Andre Drummond. Interesting to see how the Lakers navigate the back-up center spot.

That would be a good replacement for LAL.

------------

Lakers 3rd stringers are useful players

G: Bronny
G: Jaden Hardy
F: Dalton Knecht
F: Vanderbilt
C: (none)

Their main bench players could be good if they add Drummond

G: Sexton
G: Cam Carr
F: Thiero
F: J LaRavia
C: (Drummond)

I liked Ayton rounding that bench. I felt that bench was a good bench. Above average bench. If Drummond is the replacement, it would continue to be that. If they fail to sign a quality backup center, it would drop their bench way down. Below average bench then.

Speaking of Knecht, when he was drafted I compared him stats-wise and physically to Baylor Schierman.  It was fascinating how close they were in those metrics coming out of college.

But I was struck by how much better of an athlete Knecht was.  He was just faster, stronger, and had a much higher leaping ability.

After their first NBA season I still thought Knecht was a better prospect, especially when he almost got traded to Charlotte.

So what happened? How has Knecht fallen so far in the Lakers? plans?  And how has Baylor become someone that was considered good enough to be an asset in the potential Giannis trade?

Knecht can't play defense. He is a very poor defender. It is hard to put another poor defender out there alongside Luka & A Reaves. On a better defensive team, he would have gotten more opportunities to play.

The worrying part is Knecht hasn't improved his defense at all while he has been in LAL. He is a solid offensive player but his defense is so bad that he is nearly unplayable. Even with more opportunities, he probably would have ended up where he is now at some point or another anyway.

Knecht should think about going to Europe after his contract is over. He could have more success there. Maybe learn how to play some defense and try the NBA down the line.

Wow and I thought Baylor?s defense was bad. I didn?t realize Knecht was so putrid on D.

So would anyone trade Baylor for Knecht?

[JBcat]

Marc Stein: The Lakers are now pursuing both a wing defender and a backup big man after lining up a Deandre Ayton-to- Washington trade which adds $2 million in financial wiggle room for their summer business, league sources sa

Is that Ayton trade official? Or just a rumour?

Oh, it is real.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trading center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday.

Good deal for Washington. They needed big man. They now have 3 legit bigs in AD, A Sarr and Ayton.

Questionable deal for LAL. Ayton, talent wise, would be one of the best backup centers in the league. However, I can see reasons to be worried about his commitment in a bench role. His effort may fall off the map. LAL already lost Jaxson Hayes in FA to Utah. He was solid middle of the pack backup center.

I wonder if this means they are planning on Mamu being the backup center for LAL next season.

Dan Woike: A name that's come up when talking to rival teams about a player who would fit the Lakers' current roster has been Andre Drummond. Interesting to see how the Lakers navigate the back-up center spot.

That would be a good replacement for LAL.

------------

Lakers 3rd stringers are useful players

G: Bronny
G: Jaden Hardy
F: Dalton Knecht
F: Vanderbilt
C: (none)

Their main bench players could be good if they add Drummond

G: Sexton
G: Cam Carr
F: Thiero
F: J LaRavia
C: (Drummond)

I liked Ayton rounding that bench. I felt that bench was a good bench. Above average bench. If Drummond is the replacement, it would continue to be that. If they fail to sign a quality backup center, it would drop their bench way down. Below average bench then.

Speaking of Knecht, when he was drafted I compared him stats-wise and physically to Baylor Schierman.  It was fascinating how close they were in those metrics coming out of college.

But I was struck by how much better of an athlete Knecht was.  He was just faster, stronger, and had a much higher leaping ability.

After their first NBA season I still thought Knecht was a better prospect, especially when he almost got traded to Charlotte.

So what happened? How has Knecht fallen so far in the Lakers? plans?  And how has Baylor become someone that was considered good enough to be an asset in the potential Giannis trade?

Knecht can't play defense. He is a very poor defender. It is hard to put another poor defender out there alongside Luka & A Reaves. On a better defensive team, he would have gotten more opportunities to play.

The worrying part is Knecht hasn't improved his defense at all while he has been in LAL. He is a solid offensive player but his defense is so bad that he is nearly unplayable. Even with more opportunities, he probably would have ended up where he is now at some point or another anyway.

Knecht should think about going to Europe after his contract is over. He could have more success there. Maybe learn how to play some defense and try the NBA down the line.

Wow and I thought Baylor?s defense was bad. I didn?t realize Knecht was so putrid on D.

So would anyone trade Baylor for Knecht?

Nope, I do t think Knecht is any good aside from very sporadic good shooting moments.

[boscel33]

OK, have been reading about Kuminga to the C's?  I must have missed this story, but I did do an ERP go live over the weekend.  Where is this coming from and what are the chances?

[Celtics2021]

OK, have been reading about Kuminga to the C's?  I must have missed this story, but I did do an ERP go live over the weekend.  Where is this coming from and what are the chances?

It seems to be coming from a random bleacher report listicle published in the last day or two, where a writer suggested we use some of the MLE on him.  Since we used all the MLE on Mitchell Robinson already, I think we can comfortably say that the chances are near zero.