NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

[Who]

GSW have re-signed Gary Payton II + De'Anthony Melton. GP2 got a minimum contract worth $3.9mil. I haven't seen Melton's contract numbers but it is probably a min deal as well.

J Sochan signed a training camp deal with Portland. Man, he has fallen a long way in a short space of time. Only 18 months ago he was a starting PF ... now he can't get a guaranteed contract. His inability to develop his 3pt shot is killing his career. His defense is superb. 'Tis a shame.

Kobe Bufkin & C Koloko signed training camp deals with New Orleans.

[Who]

The NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, which took effect in 2023, has substantially reduced player movement in free agency. Just 35 free agents signed with new teams this summer, while 75 percent of players under contract remain on the same roster as last season.

Of the 433 total players currently under contract across the league, 273 were on their team's roster last season, 44 free agents were re-signed by their existing teams, and 41 players changed teams via trade, six more than the number who signed with new teams in free agency.

44 players re-signed with their team
41 players were traded to a new team
35 players signed with a new team in FA

Two primary factors are driving the shift.

First, a wave of contract extensions under the current CBA has left most teams without meaningful salary cap space, with only the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers having room to operate in free agency this summer.

Second, extension rules that allow players to secure more guaranteed money and additional years compared to waiting for free agency have shifted player priorities toward security.

Donovan Mitchell, for example, chose to sign a four-year, $272 million extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers rather than wait until next summer for a potential five-year, $353 million deal in free agency.

Since the current CBA began in July 2023, 104 players have signed extensions worth a combined $13 billion, compared to 124 players signing extensions totaling less than $11 billion under the previous agreement from 2017 to 2023.

So a 104 players in 3 years vs 124 players in 6 years. This has nearly doubled in volume.

Teams anticipating cap constraints have also grown more proactive in acquiring pending free agents via trade ahead of the deadline.

The Charlotte Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, respectively, in February trades that included each player's Bird rights, allowing both teams to re-sign them even while over the salary cap. Dosunmu signed a five-year, $112 million deal, while White agreed to a three-year, $74 million contract.

That would be an interesting change. If players are more likely to re-sign and there is less player movement in FA, retaining an upcoming free agent is easier. Making it more valuable to pursue guys in a trade as their deals expire.