NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

[Celtics2021]

NYK is currently $9.4M over the 1st apron with 13 players.  Only $3.3M under the 2nd apron (per Spotrac).  And they are cheap for not signing Mitchell Robinson?  I don't believe that NYK is actually hard capped at the 2nd apron but signing Robinson would have put them well above it.

19 teams are hard capped at the 1st apron so can't spend more even if they wanted to.  4 more are hard capped at the 2nd apron.  So yes, in many cases, these are literal salary caps.  And the penalties associated with the 2nd apron make it so few if any will surpass it.

So, one year of second apron penalties is worth breaking up a championship core?

Yes, James Dolan is cheap.  That championship was worth, minimally, $1 billion in terms of revenue and franchise valuation.

This is why players shouldn't "sacrifice".  Bronson gave up tens of millions of dollars to make James Dolan even richer.

NYK brought back 8 of their top 9 players. Mitchell was replaced with Drummond who may even be an upgrade.   Is that what you consider breaking up a championship core?  It is the equivalent of BOS keeping Holiday, Porziņģis and Horford but losing Kornet and adding a different backup center.

The idea that Andre Drummond may be an upgrade is laughable.  There is the obvious stats argument.  There is Robinson getting votes for a league wide award (6th Man).  And then there is the fact that the Sixers moved on from Drummond in favor of the Knicks 3rd string center, much less Mitchell Robinson also moving on.

Idk, Drummond turned into a stretch 5. He is just now tapping into his true potential..

Wonder who his shooting coach is. We have a few new clients for him.

If you want a stretch 5 who has a true shooting percentage of .539, be my guest.  Teams will prefer Drummond shots from anywhere on the court.  Not to mention his defense is very exploitable.

[Vermont Green]

My main comment was that I did not think NYK "broke up their core" because they swapped out Mitchell Robinson, a younger, more athletic, bad free throw shooting back up center with durability issues historically for an older, less athletic, but more durable back up center who shoots free throws better.

And what does NYK really need from their back up center?  Are they really any worse with Drummond?  In certain situations, they will be better off with Drummond, that isn't even accounting for injury history.  Even if Drummond only gives them half of what Robinson would have (Robinson was 6 pts and 9 rebs last season), how much difference does that really make?

[Roy H.]

My main comment was that I did not think NYK "broke up their core" because they swapped out Mitchell Robinson, a younger, more athletic, bad free throw shooting back up center with durability issues historically for an older, less athletic, but more durable back up center who shoots free throws better.

And what does NYK really need from their back up center?  Are they really any worse with Drummond?  In certain situations, they will be better off with Drummond, that isn't even accounting for injury history.  Even if Drummond only gives them half of what Robinson would have (Robinson was 6 pts and 9 rebs last season), how much difference does that really make?

Ask Brunson if he appreciates Dolan's financial approach this off-season.

[Who]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania

Free agent forward Ziaire Williams has agreed on a one-year, $3 million deal to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.

Lakers Rotation

G: A Reaves, C Sexton
G: Q Grimes, Cameron Carr
F: L Doncic, A Thiero
F: Mamu, J LaRavia
C: W Kessler, K Looney

Lakers 3rd Stringers

G: Bronny
G: Jaden Hardy
F: Dalton Knecht
F: Ziaire Williams
C: Jared Vanderbilt

Looks like the Lakers are set. Full 15 man roster.

They look light on backup ball-handlers but you can afford to be when you have Luka & A Reaves as starting wings. They don't need much from their PGs. An offensive guard in C Sexton. A defensive guard in Bronny. Another offensive guard in Jaden Hardy.

I think Cameron Carr is more of a wing. As is Grimes. Thiero a defensive SF. Knecht an offensive SF. Man, if you could combine those 2 together you would have one heck of a player. Unfortunately both are one-way guys for the time being. Thiero is worth keeping an eye on. Lakers fans excited about the speed & athleticism of Carr & Thiero off their bench.

I wonder how much they are planning on using Mamu at PF vs C. He gives them good depth at center alongside Looney behind W Kessler. Vanderbilt can play some center too although is more of a forward. LaRavia a smaller chunky forward. Not a center. Ziaire Williams a forward & not a center.

I am looking forward to the battle between LaRavia and Mamu to be the starting PF. Or perhaps Thiero if he can improve his shot enough. Thiero would be the ideal choice because they need more athleticism & defense alongside Luka at forward. But he has to get that shot up to snuff first. Much like Hugo or J Walsh for us. LaRavia more of a pure forward. Mamu a center / makeshift PF. We'll see.

Cameron Carr is the one I am most excited about. I hope he can beat out Q Grimes for playing time. Again, I'd love to see more athleticism & defense in the backcourt alongside A Reaves. Carr is their best man to do it. Not Grimes.

[Birdman]

Lakers looks horrible & I?m glad!!! Be lucky to be in play in game

[Who]

Lakers looks horrible & I?m glad!!! Be lucky to be in play in game

Yeah, I am expecting them in the play-in as well.

Western Conference

Top Teams - OKC, SAS, DEN, HOU

I think they will be the top 4 seeds.

Minnesota I have down as a "maybe top 6" because they are reliant on LaMelo Ball who is often injured. If he is healthy, they should be a top 6 seed. If he is hurt, they will drop to the play-in or perhaps out of the playoffs altogether.

Golden State is another volatile team record wise depending on injuries with their health. Relying on Porzingis. The old age of Steph, Draymond, Jimmy. They could be a top seed, middle seed, low seed, maybe even miss the play-in altogether. Similar to Minnesota. More likely a play-in team than a top 6 team due to age / injuries.

The Lakers actually look like the 5th most reliable team in the West ahead of Minnesota and GSW. So a good chance they could snare that 5th or 6th seed and avoid the play-in.

That is 7 teams.

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

Utah is a danger team. Lot of talent there. Young team though - especially their bench; their bench could hurt them. I view Utah more as a play-in team. However, they could surprise. Lotta talent.

I thought Portland messed up their team by adding Morant. I would have had them as a top 6 seed without that trade. They still might make it. Or maybe a play-in team. I like Avdija, Camara, Clingan, Jrue. Shaedon Sharpe. Timelord is an injury risk. Finding a way to fit Lillard in after acquiring Morant will be a problem for them. They have Scoot too. So that backcourt will likely create a mess that sees them underperform as a result. I'd like their team better if they just waived Lillard and moved forward with Morant / Scoot and Jrue / S Sharpe in the backcourt. That would be a top 6 team. Anyway, I am thinking underperforming side that goes into the play-in instead.

Phoenix did well to make the play-in last year. They have a decent shot to repeat the feat.

That is 10 teams.

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

I haven't mentioned Dallas or Memphis.

Mmm ... I am a doubter on Memphis. I thought they could be a sneaky play-in team if they had of kept Morant (and Aldama) and if Morant had a good year. Without Morant, I am a doubter. I am going to place them outside the play-in.

Dallas definitely have a shot at the play-in. Another year older for Cooper Flagg - his game will probably take a big jump forward. Kyrie is back from injury. D Lively is back from injury. They added Aldama to their bench. They have a strong top 10. I trust them more than Phoenix (to make the play-in). Probably more than Utah as well.

That gives us 11 teams in the West with playoff hopes.

I do not expect the LA Clippers, Sacramento or New Orleans to be in the hunt for a playoff spot. Or Memphis as noted above. So those are 4 of the 5 times outside the play-in.

[Roy H.]

I'm not sure if it was mentioned on here, but the Spurs signed Tobias Harris for 2 years, $31 million.

I think that's a nice signing for them.

[Birdman]

Russell Westbrook signed anywhere yet?

[Celtics2021]

Russell Westbrook signed anywhere yet?

Nope.  Rumor is maybe Miami, but not if LeBron goes there.

[Who]

Russell Westbrook signed anywhere yet?

Nope.  Rumor is maybe Miami, but not if LeBron goes there.

Gosh. The spacing of Westbrook & Giannis together. That will be a disaster.

[No Nickname]

Any rumors on Bradley Beal yet?  We need some firepower from the SG position to replace Simons.

I know he's not the same Beal as two years ago, but even 12ppg from him with some nice efficiency would be nice.

[snively]

Westbrook would be interesting here.

[Vermont Green]

Westbrook would be interesting here.

He is durable, I will give him that.  I think he is a better option than Beal.   He started 58 games last season with SAC.  Do people see him as a starter?  I could be convinced he is at least as good if not better than our other random wings (Hauser, Hugo, Harper, Walsh, Scheierman).  He isn't a shooter though, I see that as a problem based on playing a center who can't shoot (Queta or Robinson).

Bottom line, I don't see BOS adding any of these (Westbrook, Beal, whoever) to the 15th spot.  I could see a trade of Hauser or some other transaction to bring in more scoring, but shot of that, my guess is they start the season with 14.

[Celtics2021]

Westbrook would be interesting here.

He is durable, I will give him that.  I think he is a better option than Beal.   He started 58 games last season with SAC.  Do people see him as a starter?  I could be convinced he is at least as good if not better than our other random wings (Hauser, Hugo, Harper, Walsh, Scheierman).  He isn't a shooter though, I see that as a problem based on playing a center who can't shoot (Queta or Robinson).

I prefer our random wings.  His teams have been worse with him in the floor 5 of the last 7 seasons, and he has been on five different teams over that stretch, sometimes a starter, sometimes from the bench, so it is likely something about him rather than bad lineup luck.  As another body, fine, but I would not want him as a starter or a key piece of the rotation. 

[Vermont Green]

I am surprised that Beal declined his $5.6M player option.  Sounds like he expects more than that in his new contract (certainly not a min contract).  I don't see how BOS signs him.  BOS could offer the full bi-Annual exemption I believe ($5.5M).  That would put us over the tax but still under the first arpon hard cap.  But would he even take that?  Why decline $5.6M to take $5.5M. 

Sign and trade is an option I suppose, we could offer Hauser, but how much do you want to pay Beal for probably less than 50 games, based on his recent history.