NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors

[Goldstar88]

Mathurin would have been a nice piece for the Cs. Averaged  18pts/5rebs/2 ast last year. He is still young, too. Just turned 24.

[Ilikesports17]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
30s
Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, including a player option, sources tell ESPN.

Mathurin?s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8M qualifying offer, effectively turning the QO into a more favorable situation in New Orleans with added security. Mathurin prioritized flexibility and the earliest path to unrestricted free agency next summer versus longer term offers with larger total commitments but greater team control.

Is the second year a player option?  Otherwise, why not just take the qualifying offer?

https://www.nba.com/news/bennedict-mathurin-free-agency-2026

Yes year 2 player option

[Who]

I hope New Orleans start Mathurin and move Herb Jones to the bench instead. Herb Jones has been playing badly. He does not deserve to keep that starting slot.

G: Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears
G: Ben Mathurin, Jordan Poole, Jordan Hawkins
F: Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones
F: Zion Williamson, Seddiq Bey
C: Derik Queen, Yves Missi

They also have DeAndre Jordan as their version of Udonis Haslem / Mike Conley aka "player coach".

Mathurin helps give them some more balance. A SG with legit size. A SG who an offensive game unlike Herb Jones. So that is good.

The overall balance in the squad is still poor though. The lack of shooting in that backcourt and Herb Jones. Neither Mathurin or Trey Murphy are passers. J Poole is the only passer on the wing. Although they do have Zion at PF to help cover that limitation.

The big man defense is going to be a huge problem for them too. Zion and Bey are both below average defenders. Queen and Missi are among the worst defenders in the league at center. Zion has the most defensive chops of the four of them. He has the best chance of being an average defender.

[Goldstar88]

I hope New Orleans start Mathurin and move Herb Jones to the bench instead. Herb Jones has been playing badly. He does not deserve to keep that starting slot.

G: Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears
G: Ben Mathurin, Jordan Poole, Jordan Hawkins
F: Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones
F: Zion Williamson, Seddiq Bey
C: Derik Queen, Yves Missi

They also have DeAndre Jordan as their version of Udonis Haslem / Mike Conley aka "player coach".

Mathurin helps give them some more balance. A SG with legit size. A SG who an offensive game unlike Herb Jones. So that is good.

The overall balance in the squad is still poor though. The lack of shooting in that backcourt and Herb Jones. Neither Mathurin or Trey Murphy are passers. J Poole is the only passer on the wing. Although they do have Zion at PF to help cover that limitation.

The big man defense is going to be a huge problem for them too. Zion and Bey are both below average defenders. Queen and Missi are among the worst defenders in the league at center. Zion has the most defensive chops of the four of them. He has the best chance of being an average defender.

I doubt Bey loses his starting job after having a career year.  He averaged 18pts/6rebs/3ast with 45/37/84 shooting splits. I think the starting lineup will be: Murray, Murphy, Bey, Zion, Queen.

[Roy H.]

Free agent wing Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which includes a player option on the second season, his agent Aaron Turner told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Part of Minnesota's pitch is an expectation that Kuminga will fill the vacant starting power forward slot alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on an established Western Conference contender.

[Goldstar88]

Good luck taking that spot from Jaden McDaniels.

Michael Scotto: Jonathan Kuminga chose the Timberwolves because he felt it was the best basketball fit and gives him a chance to start at power forward for a contender. Wolves stars Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, executive Tim Connelly, and owner Alex Rodriguez all actively recruited Kuminga.

[Who]

Free agent wing Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which includes a player option on the second season, his agent Aaron Turner told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Part of Minnesota's pitch is an expectation that Kuminga will fill the vacant starting power forward slot alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on an established Western Conference contender.

Strikes me as a bad fit.

I prefer Ayo as a starter with Ant & McDaniels at forward as a unit over Ant at guard with McDaniels & Kuminga at forward. Ayo with his shooting ability would be a better complement to Ant & LaMelo than Kuminga with his iso ball / slashing game.

Kuminga makes them easier to matchup with.

[Roy H.]

Free agent wing Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which includes a player option on the second season, his agent Aaron Turner told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Part of Minnesota's pitch is an expectation that Kuminga will fill the vacant starting power forward slot alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on an established Western Conference contender.

Strikes me as a bad fit.

I prefer Ayo as a starter with Ant & McDaniels at forward as a unit over Ant at guard with McDaniels & Kuminga at forward. Ayo with his shooting ability would be a better complement to Ant & LaMelo than Kuminga with his iso ball / slashing game.

Kuminga makes them easier to matchup with.

My guess is that Kuminga will quickly find himself coming off the bench.

[A Future of Stevens]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
30s
Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, including a player option, sources tell ESPN.

Mathurin?s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8M qualifying offer, effectively turning the QO into a more favorable situation in New Orleans with added security. Mathurin prioritized flexibility and the earliest path to unrestricted free agency next summer versus longer term offers with larger total commitments but greater team control.

Was he not a RFA? I don't understand this at all from the Clippers side.

[Ilikesports17]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
30s
Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, including a player option, sources tell ESPN.

Mathurin?s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8M qualifying offer, effectively turning the QO into a more favorable situation in New Orleans with added security. Mathurin prioritized flexibility and the earliest path to unrestricted free agency next summer versus longer term offers with larger total commitments but greater team control.

Was he not a RFA? I don't understand this at all from the Clippers side.

Yes. He is an RFA. This will be a sign-and-trade

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/rumors/2026/08/26/being-told-the-clippers-havent-yet-withdrawn-their/91475494007/

[Goldstar88]

Between these players, the next to request a trade will be ...? (From ESPN)


1. Anthony Davis: ten points
2. Kyrie Irving: four points
T-3. Kevin Durant: three points
T-3. Zion Williamson: three points
T-5. James Harden: two points
T-5. Jaylen Brown: two points

Davis and the Wizards are essentially opening the season on a trial period. That's quite a stark contrast to the franchise's partnership with Trae Young, the other former All-Star that Washington acquired before last season's trade deadline -- and signed to a four-year, $213 million extension this summer that raised eyebrows around the league.

Davis and his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, haven't been coy about their desire for a maximum (or close to it) contract extension. That was a driving factor in Dallas' decision to trade Davis a year after he was the headliner in the return of the Luka Doncic deal, and it made finding a market for him difficult.

If Washington isn't willing to pay Davis what he wants, why would he be satisfied to stick around and attempt to help the Wizards snap a six-year playoff drought?

Irving, who played only one game alongside Davis during their short stint together as Mavericks teammates, has given no indication of a desire to leave Dallas. The Mavs have declined to engage teams that have inquired about his availability as Irving prepares to return from the knee injury that sidelined him all of last season.

But front offices across the league anticipate that one or both parties could decide it's in their best interest to part ways, wondering about the long-term fit of the 34-year-old Irving as the Mavs prioritize building around teenage prodigy Cooper Flagg.

Irving, like Davis, has a contract with a player option for the 2027-28 season. So does Durant, who had Houston as his preferred destination when the Suns decided to make him available via trade after the 2024-25 season and signed an extension well south of his max to give the Rockets financial flexibility. -- MacMahon

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
13s
Free agent center Nick Richards has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, sources tell ESPN. After signing Klay Thompson, the Heat fill roster slot No. 14 with a reserve big man.

[RMO]

Between these players, the next to request a trade will be ...? (From ESPN)


1. Anthony Davis: ten points
2. Kyrie Irving: four points
T-3. Kevin Durant: three points
T-3. Zion Williamson: three points
T-5. James Harden: two points
T-5. Jaylen Brown: two points

Davis and the Wizards are essentially opening the season on a trial period. That's quite a stark contrast to the franchise's partnership with Trae Young, the other former All-Star that Washington acquired before last season's trade deadline -- and signed to a four-year, $213 million extension this summer that raised eyebrows around the league.

Davis and his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, haven't been coy about their desire for a maximum (or close to it) contract extension. That was a driving factor in Dallas' decision to trade Davis a year after he was the headliner in the return of the Luka Doncic deal, and it made finding a market for him difficult.

If Washington isn't willing to pay Davis what he wants, why would he be satisfied to stick around and attempt to help the Wizards snap a six-year playoff drought?

Irving, who played only one game alongside Davis during their short stint together as Mavericks teammates, has given no indication of a desire to leave Dallas. The Mavs have declined to engage teams that have inquired about his availability as Irving prepares to return from the knee injury that sidelined him all of last season.

But front offices across the league anticipate that one or both parties could decide it's in their best interest to part ways, wondering about the long-term fit of the 34-year-old Irving as the Mavs prioritize building around teenage prodigy Cooper Flagg.

Irving, like Davis, has a contract with a player option for the 2027-28 season. So does Durant, who had Houston as his preferred destination when the Suns decided to make him available via trade after the 2024-25 season and signed an extension well south of his max to give the Rockets financial flexibility. -- MacMahon

This is the other thing about the Luka trade that really gets me.  If the lakers still had AD they would have to deal with this.  An older, injury prone player who wants a max contract.  They would have been in a really tough spot with this.  It's not as simple as saying let him walk and we get the cap space.  It doesn't really work that way.  It would have been a real headache for them and insted, they have prime Luka instead.

[Phantom255x]

I might be in the minority when I say this, but I would be intrigued by Zion depending on how he holds up next season. He's the kind of guy who offers another element this team doesn't have, and is someone who in theory could complement Tatum well and be another building block alongside Tatum, Queta, etc. And believe it or not, he's still only 26 years old. Yes, no question the work ethic and durability have been big issues and is something to monitor next season as well, but he did play 62 games last season and there's a reason he was as hyped up as he was coming out of college. He won't reach that level, but he can still be a Top-20 player in the league when healthy. And we saw glimpses, like when he went toe-to-toe with AD + Lebron and the Lakers in the 2024 play-in game where he put up 40/11/5 and nearly willed them to a win.

I'd just consider him a legit option next offseason. Everyone will dream of guys like Jokic, but Zion could be a more realistic option and his age appeals to me. Of course, I'm also willing to see how next season plays out for him from a health and stats standpoint, but if the Pelicans remain bad (very likely) I do think they'll trade him and maybe he'll even request it too.

Zion makes 42M this next season, and will make 44M in 2027-2028 before his deal expires.