Thompson suffered knee and Achilles injuries that wiped away 2 1/2 years of his career.

“Everyone tries to make Klay the guy Klay was after the injuries,” Green said. “I won’t go for that. What I will also say is, [it was] highly likely that after the 2019 playoffs, Klay Thompson was going to leave the Golden State Warriors and go be a No. 1 option somewhere. … Then he got hurt, and so he stayed.

“But one thing I can assure you, there was a 90 percent chance my brother was going to leave Golden State and go elsewhere and test that No. 1 option thing out. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the cards for him and he got hurt and he never got the opportunity to.”

Thompson is now a member of the Heat, signing a two-year deal, after reaching a buyout with the Mavericks.

Here’s more from the Western Conference:

• Miles Bridges has averaged 20-plus points during three seasons in his career. Bridges, who was traded to the Suns this offseason, could have just as big an impact on Phoenix’s defense, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic writes. Bridges has the ability to be an elite defender — versatile enough to guard the 3 and dribble drives to the paint as well as making switches. He can also allow Dillon Brooks to play small forward more often. “Miles is going to be able to give us that size, the agility, and the athleticism to guard the fours,” Brooks said. “It’s going to make me be able to guard some of the wings and the guards, which I like, but it’s interchangeable with me and Miles. I’m going to challenge him to be able to guard guards and challenge him to be able to get out of his comfort zone to be able to make him better so you can guard any position, not only fours and threes, but, guarding guys like Kawhi Leonard to De’Aaron Fox.”
• The Thunder have inked a partnership with locally-owned broadcast company Griffin Media for the upcoming season, according to Rylan Stiles of SI.com. In addition to this partnership, the Thunder have launched a streaming service, Thunder+, where local fans can subscribe and watch every non-nationally exclusive game without any blackout restrictions.
• An LLC controlled by LeBron James borrowed nearly $300MM from two Midwestern life insurers advised by an arm of Guggenheim Partners months before he signed with the Lakers in 2018, according to a Bloomberg report (hat tip to RealGM). The previously unreported bonds are structured against future revenue from James’ endorsement deals, including a lifetime Nike sponsorship, and are not due until 2049. A spokesperson for James described the arrangement as a standard financial structure for high-earning individuals.

2:05 am: The Timberwolves and Jazz have reached an agreement on a trade that will send veteran wing Josh Green to Utah in exchange for forwards Cody Williams and John Konchar, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

Minnesota is also trading cash to the Jazz as part of the deal, reports Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).

According to Charania, the Wolves plan to hang onto Williams but will waive Konchar, using the stretch provision to spread his $6.17MM cap hit across three seasons, resulting in annual cap charges of roughly $2.06MM.

The goal for Minnesota is to generate enough room below the team’s second-apron hard cap in order to officially sign Jonathan Kuminga using the taxpayer mid-level exception. The Wolves had been about $4MM away from that hard cap and Kuminga’s first-year salary will be north of $6MM.

By swapping out Green’s expiring $14.68MM contract for Williams ($6.02MM) and incurring a $2.06MM cap charge for Konchar, Minnesota will generate approximately $6.6MM in cap savings, moving the team $10.6MM below the second apron.

After officially completing the trade, waiving-and-stretching Konchar’s deal, and signing Kuminga, the Wolves will have 14 players under contract and will still have $4.5MM in breathing room under their hard cap, giving them more than enough space to add a 15th man on a minimum-salary contract.

Minnesota will also have the opportunity to take a flier on Williams, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, who has struggled to establish himself as a reliable role player during his first two years in the NBA. The 6’8″ wing out of Colorado averaged 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 24.3 minutes per game across 67 outings (41 starts) last season. While he improved his shooting percentage to 46.8% from the floor during his second season, he converted just 28-of-131 three-pointers (21.4%).

The Wolves will have until October 31 to decide whether or not to exercise Williams’ fourth-year rookie scale team option worth $7.67MM. Unless he takes a significant step forward during the preseason and early part of the ’26/27 season, that option seems unlikely to be picked up by a Minnesota team that will be prioritizing cap flexibility around the edges of its roster going forward.

Krawczynski notes (via Twitter) that he expects the Timberwolves to use the open spot on their standard roster to add a veteran player who can be a positive locker room presence and provide insurance off the bench if needed.

As for the Jazz, they’ll swap out two players who weren’t expected to play significant roles this season for Green, who has shown the ability across six seasons in Dallas and Charlotte to be a solid perimeter defender who can knock down a three-pointer (.387 career 3PT%). He played a reduced role last season in Charlotte after returning from shoulder surgery, averaging 4.3 PPG and 1.8 RPG in 15.7 MPG with a .459/.420/.893 shooting line in 58 appearances off the bench.

Upgrading a defense that has ranked 29th or 30th in the NBA in each of the past three seasons has been a priority this summer for the Jazz, who also signed versatile wing Josh Okogie to a two-year, $12MM contract in July.

As we observed earlier this week when we evaluated their offseason moves so far, the Jazz had been operating more than $22MM under the luxury tax line, so taking on a little extra salary in the two-for-one swap won’t be an issue for the team. The trade will leave Utah with 14 players on standard contracts, giving the club the option of adding another veteran via trade or free agency, allowing camp invitees to compete for that 15th spot, or leaving it open in order to provide additional in-season flexibility.

Joan Penarroya told Mozzartsport that he is building his rotation without Parker, whose contract runs through this coming season.

“What I can explain is that we are building a team without Parker for the next season,” he said. “That is completely clear. He has a valid contract, and I have the utmost respect for situations like this, and I respect Jabari; I repeat, he is a good guy. However, it is completely clear that we are building a team without him.”

The No. 2 pick of the 2014 draft last appeared in the NBA during the 2021/22 season.

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

• There could be an unusually large restricted free agent class next offseason, RealGM notes. Victor Wembanyama is the only player from the 2023 draft class who has signed an extension with his team this offseason. Brandon Miller, Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson, in particular, were also viewed as players who could sign lucrative extensions but there doesn’t seem to be much movement in negotiations. Relaying comments from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst in The Hoop Collective podcast, a league executive revealed that “the short answer is that I’m hearing nothing” regarding other potential rookie scale extensions due to tax apron concerns.
• The NBA G League has unveiled its upcoming season schedule, according to a league press release. The schedule will continue to be divided into two parts: Each team will play 14 games in the Tip-Off Tournament, followed by a 36-game regular season. All 31 NBA G League teams will compete in at least 50 games during the 2026/27 season.
• Speaking of the G League, a three-team trade was completed this week, according to a press release from the Pacers’ affiliate, the Noblesville Boom. They acquired the returning player rights to forward Isaih Moore and a first-round pick in the 2026 NBAGL draft as part of a trade involving the Maine Celtics and College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta’s affiliate. The Boom will send the returning player rights of forward Gabe McGlothan to the Maine Celtics while acquiring a first-rounder from the Skyhawks.

That makes Mathurin an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign with the Pelicans. Mathurin agreed to a two-year contract with New Orleans this week.

The qualifying offer of $8.8MM had made Mathurin a restricted free agent, which would have required a rival team to sign him to an offer sheet that Los Angeles could have matched. Alternatively, the team interested in signing him would have needed to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Clippers. Now, those restrictions are dropped.

Mathurin is reportedly signing a two-year, $16MM contract that includes a player option. Under those terms, New Orleans wouldn’t have been able to acquire him via an offer sheet or a sign-and-trade. An offer sheet must be for at least two years (not counting options), while a contract completed via sign-and-trade must cover at least three seasons.

July 13 was the deadline for a team to unilaterally rescind a restricted free agent’s qualifying offer, but teams can still take that route with the player’s consent throughout the offseason.

Mathurin, who reportedly drew interest from the Bulls, Bucks, and Mavericks earlier this summer, received longer-term offers that featured more overall money but preferred a shorter-term deal that will allow him to reach unrestricted free agency as early as next offseason.

Acquired by the Clippers from Indiana as part of the Ivica Zubac trade in February, Mathurin averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 28.0 minutes per game over the course of 26 outings (one start) for his new team.

Those numbers weren’t much different from the ones the 6’5″ swingman posted in 28 games for the Pacers to open the 2025/26 season (17.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.3 APG), though his three-point shooting fell off significantly in Los Angeles, from 37.2% on 5.6 attempts per game to 20.7% on 3.2 tries per contest. He was a career 34.2% three-point shooter entering last season.

A former sixth overall pick, Mathurin has shown the ability to be a dangerous scorer, though his jump shot can be hit and miss. He’s at his best when he’s getting to the free throw line, where he has made 83.8% of 5.1 attempts per game over the course of his four-year career. His play-making remains a work in progress, as he has compiled more career turnovers (502) than assists (500).

In New Orleans, Mathurin will join a backcourt that also features Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, and 2025 lottery pick Jeremiah Fears.

Adding Mathurin, who will be signed using a portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, will give New Orleans 16 players on standard contracts, one over the limit. Thus, the Pelicans will need to make another roster move before the start of the season.

New Orleans has been shopping Jordan Hawkins to make that happen. Otherwise, the Pelicans could choose to waive-and-stretch Hawkins, Smith tweets. Today is the deadline for teams to use the waive-and-stretch provision.

However, he strongly disagreed with the decision to trade an unprotected first-round pick (plus Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale) to acquire Miles Bridges, and that move alone lowered his offseason grade from a B-plus to a B-minus.

Kram, Dave McMenamin, Ben Golliver and Dean Oliver of ESPN recap Phoenix’s offseason thus far and preview what could be in store for 2026/27. The biggest question mark hanging over the Suns, according to McMenamin, is Jalen Green‘s fit in a lineup that features other score-first players like Bridges, Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker.

Here’s more from the Pacific:

• Warriors superstar Stephen Curry becomes extension-eligible on Saturday, and both he and the team have publicly expressed interest in reaching a new deal, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic. While the “overwhelming likelihood” is that the 38-year-old guard will re-up with the only franchise he’s ever known, the more intriguing scenario would be Curry deciding not to sign an offseason extension, Friedell writes. The ball will be in Curry’s court, since the team will likely offer him whatever contract structure he wants.
• After Jonathan Kuminga decided to sign with Minnesota, the Lakers will turn their attention to other players. Khobi Price of The California Post considers the several veterans the team could pursue, listing Jericho Sims (Bucks) and Jalen Smith (Bulls) as a couple of possible trade targets. Price also views De’Andre Hunter (Kings) and Kyle Kuzma (Bucks) as starting-caliber forwards the team might consider on the trade market, though he notes that there’s nothing indicating Los Angeles is currently interested in either player.
• The Cavaliers waived Cam Whitmore on Friday. Could the Clippers be interested in the high-flying 22-year-old? Law Murray of The Athletic doesn’t think so, writing (via Twitter) that signing Whitmore “absolutely does not” seem like a move the Clips would pursue.

Minnesota’s decision to go all-in on perimeter talent — trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid in the process — left a void at power forward. Iko considers Kuminga a clear upgrade over Randle and Reid defensively, particularly in terms of versatility, and notes that the former No. 7 overall pick is a strong finisher and cutter who’s good at getting to the free throw line.

Although he’ll almost certainly be asked to play a complementary off-ball role if he starts, Kuminga could also play a higher-usage offensive role when Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball are off the floor, Iko observes. Kuminga has said in the past that he views himself as a future All-Star.

Ultimately, Iko argues that adding Kuminga on a two-year, $12.4MM deal with a second-year player option is a “low-cost, potentially high-impact move” for a Minnesota team that aspires to win its first championship in 2026/27.

Here’s more on the Timberwolves:

• The Wolves currently have no intention of trading Donte DiVincenzo and are cautiously optimistic he may be able to return to action near the end of the 2026/27 campaign, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link). “In talking to people in Minnesota this week, we were discussing team expectations heading into the season,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “Specifically around guys coming off torn Achilles. … The idea that the Timberwolves can count on Donte for significant contributions this year is unrealistic, and I don’t think they are. That said, after covering the NBA for 24 years, you learn how these situations play out: while Minnesota isn’t putting any official expectations or pressure on his timeline, they harbor a quiet hope that he could return before the end of the season and give them something. And to be clear, they have no plans to trade him.”
• Windhorst’s comments about DiVincenzo are noteworthy because the Wolves are reportedly considering going the waive-and-stretch route with Josh Green‘s $14.68MM expiring contract, which would result in $4.89MM annual cap hits through 2028/29. Those cap savings would give Minnesota enough room beneath its second-apron hard cap to sign Kuminga using the taxpayer mid-level exception. DiVincenzo will earn $12.35MM in 2026/27, the final season of his deal.
• Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic takes a closer look at new majority owner Marc Stad, who will be buying his shares from Marc Lore. Stad is “private by nature” and said in an interview with his alma mater, Harvard, that he was the first person in his family to graduate from high school, Krawczynski writes. Stad also said he didn’t have enough money to buy a coat in his first winter in Cambridge, but now his technology-focused investment firm, Dragoneer Investment Group, controls over $35 billion in assets. According to Krawczynski’s sources, while Stad’s wife Elisa will serve as team governor to allow Stad to focus on Dragoneer, he will be “heavily involved” in all of the organization’s decisions.

The 30th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Jones played eight seasons in the NBA, having won a pair of championships in his first two seasons with Golden State. He last suited up for Cleveland during the 2023/24 campaign.

Jones, 31, has spent most of the past two years in China with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, though he recently won a title in Puerto Rico with Vaqueros de Bayamon.

Here’s more from overseas:

• Rytas Vilnius CEO Martynas Giga recently revealed the qualification process for the non-permanent members of NBA Europe, which is expected to launch next year, per BasketNews. “The two [FIBA Basketball Champions League] finalists will get direct spots for NBA Europe. [The qualifying tournament] will consist of the two teams that lose in the [BCL] semifinals, and six teams from the highest-ranked domestic leagues,” Giga said. “… The qualifying tournament is expected to take place after the end of the season. Therefore, our contracts have been extended for a longer term, taking into account the possibility of playing in that tournament. … The expectation is that eight teams will be participating in it, with two clubs receiving a place in NBA Europe.” Rytas won the BCL championship last year, which has become a running joke within the team, according to BasketNews. “We joked 100 times already that we won it too early,” Giga said. “That said, if we did it last year, maybe there’s a chance to repeat it this season.“
• Forward Saliou Niang, who was born in Senegal but moved to Italy at age two and competes for the Italian national team, said he eventually wants to join the Cavaliers in the NBA, as Alessandro Maggi of Sportando relays. “My relationship with Cleveland is close. I could have gone there this summer, but we are working on a path that will prepare me for the big leap,” said Niang, whom Cleveland drafted 58th overall last year. The 22-year-old reportedly made the comments in an interview with Matteo De Santis of La Stampa.
• Latvian center Anzejs Pasecniks, the 25th pick in the 2017 NBA draft, has signed with the Turkish team Aliağa Petkimspor (Twitter link). Pasecniks spent parts of two seasons with the Wizards and signed a two-way deal with Milwaukee in the 2024 offseason prior to being waived before the 2024/25 campaign began. The 30-year-old big man spent last season in Taiwan with the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers. 

A 6’9″ forward/center who was signed to a two-way contract, Reese was traded from Washington to Denver last week as part of the Peyton Watson deal. The Nuggets were able to acquire Reese despite being over the second tax apron because two-way contracts don’t count against the salary cap.

A four-year college player for the University of Maryland, Reese went undrafted in 2025 and spent most of the 2025/26 campaign in the G League with Toronto’s affiliate team, the Raptors 905. He signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Wizards at the end of February and was reportedly viewed as expendable this summer after the team drafted Felix Okpara.

The brother of three-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese, Julian played an unusually sizable role for the tanking Wizards at the end of last season, having averaged 11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 13 games, including 10 starts (30.9 minutes per contest).

The 23-year-old also made 41 combined NBAGL appearances (38 with the Raptors 905, three with the Capital City Go-Go) in 2025/26, averaging 8.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 1.0 BPG in 18.3 MPG.

Reporting at the time of that trade indicated that Reese would be waived by the Nuggets, so the transaction doesn’t come as a surprise. Denver now has one two-way opening, with guard KJ Simpson and 2026 second-rounder Bryce Hopkins occupying the other two slots.

Cleveland acquired Whitmore eight days ago as part of the five-team Peyton Watson deal. Reporting at the time indicated that the Cavaliers were “still working through” what to do with Whitmore, which suggested he wasn’t in the team’s short- or long-term plans.

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and The Stein Line subsequently reported that Cleveland was expected to waive Whitmore, who’s in the final year of his rookie scale contract. The Cavs will likely to use the stretch provision to spread Whitmore’s $5,458,310 salary across three seasons, reducing his 2026/27 cap hit to $1,819,437.

Whitmore was the 20th overall pick in the 2023 draft after one college season at Villanova. He spent his first two seasons with the Rockets, the team that drafted him, prior to being traded to the Wizards last offseason.

The 22-year-old’s lone season in Washington was cut short due to a serious health issue, a blood clot in his right shoulder. He appeared in 21 games for the Wizards in 2025/26 before the deep vein thrombosis was discovered.

Whitmore holds career averages of 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds on .450/.349/.742 shooting in splits in 119 NBA games (17.3 minutes per contest).

The Cavs still have some work to do to fill out their roster after releasing Whitmore, who will be an unrestricted free agent in a couple days if he clears waivers. They reportedly plan to sign a draft-rights rookie — 2022 second-rounder Khalifa Diop has been mentioned — to maximize their financial flexibility and give James Harden a major payday.

Durant admits being affected by former teammate Russell Westbrook‘s retirement announcement this summer, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to consider ending his time in the league. Durant holds a $46MM player option for 2027/28 and still performs at a high level, averaging 26 points per game last season while earning second-team All-NBA honors.

“It’s a young man’s game,” Durant said. “Even though I feel like I can play, you are always hear, ‘You’re 38, you’re 39. You’re getting up there.’ So, yeah, I get that, but I put everything into the game and I’m cool with whatever happens as I move forward. I’m going to continue to put everything into the game until I can’t no more.”

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

• In the latest episode of the “Curious Mike” podcast (YouTube link), Michael Porter Jr. talked about being impressed by Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving during a recent workout, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Sports Journal. Irving has been sidelined since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025, but Porter didn’t see any lingering effects from that injury. “I was hooping with him yesterday and this is off of his ACL,” he said. “That dude was so cold, bro. I couldn’t believe how he was moving out there. And he was getting to the lane, there’s all footers in there and he somehow was with the left. Bro, it was nutty. It was crazy.”
• In an interview with Mark Medina of R.org, the trainer for Spurs guard Stephon Castle makes the case that his client is the NBA’s best perimeter player. Olin Simplis argues that Castle deserves All-Star and All-Defensive consideration and said he has been working to improve his shooting and conditioning since the NBA Finals. “Obviously, shooting overall in the NBA is at a premium,” Simplis said. “But with Steph, it’s also about making sure that we create the proper energy and synergy on every rep. He’s such a high-volume guy defensively that sometimes his sequence in his shooting patterns is off.”
• In a subscriber-only story, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal talks to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press about what Isaiah Stewart will bring to the Grizzlies. Sankofa calls Stewart “a perfect wrestling heel type guy” and predicts that Memphis fans will react enthusiastically when he gets into scuffles with opposing players.

“It’s very militaristic out here and the fitness programs are really demanding; that’s what honestly attracted me to here and have that expectation of a deep playoff run,” Thompson told ESPN West Palm Beach. “It’s all about winning [here]. Some people think South Florida is 18 holes and pina coladas but nah, it’s the opposite. It’s an honor to be here.”

Thompson also called the Heat “a very demanding organization,” which appeals to him as a competitor. He reportedly gave back around $9.8MM of his $17.5MM salary in a buyout deal with Dallas so he could join a contender after two years of missing of missing the playoffs. He described the chance to come to Miami as “a match made in heaven.”

“I want to be in an environment that’s super competitive and guys might get uncomfortable at times,” Thompson said. “I love that. I get a whole jolt of energy when I walk in this building and seeing photos on the wall of the championship runs and all the greats who played here. Gives me a new motivation to add a chapter to my legacy.”

There’s more from Miami:

• In the same piece, Jackson states that Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s Milwaukee teams produced elite offensive ratings when he was surrounded by three-point shooters. Along with the addition of Thompson, Jackson notes that Bobby Portis, Andrew Wiggins, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Davion Mitchell all ranked among the top 40 in three-point shooting percentage last season, so there’s a chance for the Heat’s offense to be productive if they can maintain that level.
• Thompson enjoys the comparison to Ray Allen, who came to Miami late in his career and helped the Heat capture the 2013 championship, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald writes in a subscriber-only story. “I love Ray Allen. Are you kidding me,” Thompson said in the ESPN Radio interview. “Him and Reggie (Miller) were like the blueprint for my whole off-ball formula. I still watch their footage all the time, and how they got open and how much they moved without the ball. “It gives me chills that I’m even in the same sentence as Ray, because if you told me this my rookie season, I would’ve never believed you.”
• The Heat probably won’t be in a rush to fill their 15th roster spot, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel states in a mailbag column (subscription required). He points out that Saturday is the deadline to waive and stretch players for the upcoming season, which could create a few opportunities, and some teams have more than 15 standard contracts, so more players will become available before the start of the season.

Industry sources tell Vorkunov that the league and PJT Partners, the financial firm hired to advise on expansion exploration, asked bidders who have expressed interest in bringing a team to Las Vegas or Seattle to provide information earlier this month. That data included cap-table sketches, names of potential investors and how much they would be willing to pay for the new teams.

Separate deadlines were set for each city, Vorkunov adds, and a second bidding deadline for Las Vegas will take place sometime in September with investors being asked to submit more detailed portfolios. Vorkunov notes that a second deadline hasn’t been set for Seattle yet, and his sources believe the league will select an owner in Las Vegas first.

Expansion fees haven’t been established, but Vorkunov notes that the league has indicated it will be seeking $7 billion to $10 billion for each franchise. Las Vegas is believed to be near the top of that range, with some industry sources floating $9 billion as a realistic number. Seattle’s figure is likely to be “far less,” according to Vorkunov.

He identifies Bill Foley, owner of the NHL’s Golden Knights, and Walmart’s Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband, Bill Laurie, as being among the leading contenders for the Las Vegas franchise.

Vorkunov’s sources say another still unidentified bidding group is already involved and more could join the process before the September deadline. He hears that a group that includes former NBA executive Jerry Colangelo, former Clippers head coach and player Vinny Del Negro, ex-Turner Broadcasting president David Levy and a collection of finance executives have indicated that they would be able to raise up to $13 billion for the team and a new arena.

Several sources tell Vorkunov that the Laurie group is seen as the current frontrunner, but he cautions that’s “not a consensus view.”

Samantha Holloway, owner of the NHL’s Kraken, is the only known bidder to emerge for the Seattle franchise, Vorkunov adds, although commissioner Adam Silver has stated that there are “other public groups” with interest in competing for the team.

The NBA has a Board of Governors meeting scheduled for next month, and Silver is hoping for a final decision on whether to proceed with expansion by the end of the year.

Kuminga was the top unrestricted free agent on the market for most of the summer, but many of the teams with interest were limited in what they could pay him without a sign-and-trade. Although he potentially could have wound up with more money if he continued to wait, Kuminga decided to end the process this week by agreeing to a two-year deal with Minnesota.

“This is your chance to go to a place you can feel believed in,” Turner said he told Kuminga. “They’re going to encourage you. They’re going to push you, but they’re not going to run away from you.”

Anthony Edwards took the lead in the recruitment process, selling Kuminga on the Wolves’ style of play and their need for a power forward after parting with Julius Randle and Naz Reid in separate trades this offseason. Krawczynski notes that Edwards has embraced his role as a team leader and was active in organizing a recent team trip to Paris to work out with Rudy Gobert.

“Ant was super active in the recruitment of him,” Turner told Krawczynski. “One thing he did was focus his message on, we’re gonna really guard here. Everybody looked at the offensive end. JK and I looked more at the defensive end.”

Edwards’ 2024 Olympics experience gave him a chance to play for Steve Kerr, whom Kuminga often clashed with during his time with Golden State, so they were able to discuss what went wrong. Edwards also talked extensively about their 2025 playoff meeting, when Kuminga averaged 20.8 points per game and proved to be a tough matchup for the Wolves’ defense.

“Ant can relate to JK in a way very few, if any, in the world can,” Turner said. “Him saying, ‘I know what you can do’ meant a lot.”

LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels also reached out to Kuminga, and the strong sales pitch went beyond the players. Turner confirms that president of basketball operations Tim Connelly met Kuminga for dinner in Miami and was very direct about what the team could offer him and what it would expect in return. Alex Rodriguez contacted Kuminga to express the support of ownership, and coach Chris Finch spoke to him numerous times with an emphasis on accountability.

“It was such a solid respect factor from top to bottom,” Turner said.

Krawczynski points out that Turner’s long relationship with Connelly and general manager Matt Lloyd may have helped a deal get done. The Wolves were only able to offer a veteran’s minimum contract to Kuminga when the process began, but Turner encouraged them to free up more space to make their bid more competitive. That happened when new controlling owner Marc Stad authorized spending up to the $6MM mid-level exception.

Kuminga’s contract includes a player option for the second season, which is something the Warriors refused to give him during last summer’s negotiations. The hope is that Kuminga will be Minnesota’s long-term answer at power forward, but Krawczynski cites a belief that both sides can benefit even if the arrangement only lasts one year.

Free agent signings

• Isaiah Hartenstein: Three years, $75,000,000. Third-year mutual option. Trade kicker (15%). Re-signed using Early Bird rights.
• Kenrich Williams: One year, $5,000,000. Fully guaranteed. Includes unlikely incentives ($500K). Re-signed using Bird rights.

Trades

• Acquired the draft rights to Bennett Stirtz (No. 16 pick) from the Grizzlies in exchange for the draft rights to Ebuka Okorie (No. 17 pick), either the Nuggets’, Rockets’, or Heat’s 2030 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable) and the Thunder’s 2033 second-round pick.
• Acquired the draft rights to Otega Oweh (No. 41 pick) and cash ($1.5MM) from the Heat in exchange for the draft rights to Ryan Conwell (No. 37 pick).
• Acquired the Hawks’ 2030 second-round pick and either the Hawks’ or Lakers’ 2032 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable) from the Hawks in exchange for Aaron Wiggins.
• Acquired the Timberwolves’ 2030 second-round pick and the Pistons’ 2031 second-round pick from the Pistons in exchange for Isaiah Joe.
• Acquired the Bulls’ 2027 second-round pick, either the Rockets’ (56-60 protected) or Hawks’ 2031 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable), and either the Lakers’ or Hawks’ 2032 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable) from the Mavericks and Hawks in a three-team trade in exchange for Luguentz Dort (to Hawks).

Draft picks

• 1-12: Aday Mara
  • Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $27,023,778). First two years guaranteed. Third- and fourth-year team options.
• 1-16: Bennett Stirtz
  • Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $22,820,500). First two years guaranteed. Third- and fourth-year team options.
• 2-41: Otega Oweh
  • Signed to two-way contract.

Two-way signings

• Brooks Barnhizer
  • One year, $91,000 partial guarantee (will increase to $339,441 at start of regular season).
• Josh Dix
  • One year, $91,000 partial guarantee (will increase to $339,441 at start of regular season).
• Otega Oweh
  • One year, $91,000 partial guarantee (will increase to $339,441 at start of regular season).

Departed/unsigned free agents

• Branden Carlson (Trail Blazers)

Other roster moves

• Signed restricted free agent Spencer Jones to a two-year, $11,750,000 offer sheet using the taxpayer mid-level exception; matched by Nuggets.
• Waived Payton Sandfort (two-way contract).

Salary cap situation

Note: Figures are rounded to one decimal place.

• Operating over the first apron ($209MM) and below the second tax apron ($221.7MM).
• No hard cap.
• Team salary: $214.3MM (tax); $214.8MM (apron)
• Above luxury tax line by $13.9MM; above first apron by $5.8MM; below second apron by $6.9MM.
• Taxpayer mid-level exception ($6.1MM) available.
• Three traded player exceptions available (largest worth $17.7MM).
• One traded player exception frozen/unavailable (worth $2.4MM).

The offseason so far

We knew entering the offseason that something had to give for the Thunder.

All 15 players that finished the 2025/26 season on Oklahoma City’s standard roster were either still under contract or had team options for ’26/27, so the club had the ability to bring everyone back if it wanted to. But simply retaining the 12 players who were under contract and picking up the remaining three team options would’ve pushed the Thunder’s team salary to nearly $250MM — and that didn’t even take into account the two first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 17) that would add another $10MM in combined salary to the books.

The Thunder have been taxpayers a few times in the past, but they haven’t historically been comfortable operating deep in luxury tax territory, and the rules that apply to second-apron teams in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement have further limited the upside of carrying a massive payroll. So, faced with both a roster crunch and a cap crunch, Oklahoma City was expected to do some cost-cutting this summer.

The widespread belief was that the Thunder would begin addressing their roster crunch at the draft, either by packaging their two first-rounders to move up a few spots or by trading one of those two picks for future draft assets.

Instead, Oklahoma City stayed at No. 12 and drafted Michigan center Aday Mara, who will give the team more frontcourt size in its battles with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Then, the Thunder actually gave up a pair of second-round picks to move up from No. 17 to No. 16 in order to snag Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz, one of the Big Ten’s top scorers.

The Thunder’s team option decisions didn’t do much to clear up the roster crunch either. Luguentz Dort‘s $17.7MM option was the only one of the three that was actually picked up, but the front office quickly worked out new agreements with Isaiah Hartenstein (three years, $75MM) and Kenrich Williams (one year, $5MM, plus $500K in incentives), bringing them back on slightly lower starting salaries than what their options would have been worth ($28.5MM and $7.2MM, respectively).

Taking into account the two first-round picks, Dort’s option, and the new Hartenstein and Williams contracts, the Thunder’s team salary was a little over $252MM, which was $50MM+ over the luxury tax line and $30MM+ above the second tax apron, resulting in a projected tax bill north of $191MM. The team also had 17 players on guaranteed standard contracts. It was time for Sam Presti and the front office to get to work on the trade market.

Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins were viewed as the most obvious trade candidates on the roster entering the summer due to their mid-sized salaries and the fact that they’d fallen out of the rotation in the postseason. So it came as no surprise when Joe was dealt to the Pistons and Wiggins was sent to the Hawks. The two deals were nearly identical — in each case, Oklahoma City received a pair of future second-round picks and didn’t have to take back any salary in return.

A few weeks later, the Thunder finalized a third trade, dealing Dort to the Hawks in a three-team transaction that netted them three second-round picks and – once again – didn’t require them to absorb any salary. That move was likely harder for Presti to pull the trigger on, given that Dort had spent his entire seven-year NBA career in OKC and was an important culture-setter for the organization. But the veteran wing struggled in the playoffs and didn’t appear to have a place in the team’s plans beyond 2026/27.

When the dust settled, the Thunder had moved off more than $38MM in contracts that trio of trades, reducing their team salary to about $214MM and their projected tax bill to just under $20MM for a total of almost $210MM in savings.

The moves also got Oklahoma City out of second-apron territory, but Presti made it clear in the wake of the Dort deal that that wasn’t the primary motivating factor, telling The Oklahoman that moving Dort was a “financial decision.”

“The impression I have been given is that the savings generated this summer, and from being out of the tax the last several years, will be reallocated to future teams,” Presti said at the time. “Along with other new well-documented revenue streams, this will allow us to make more basketball-related decisions over the next several years.”

I’ve questioned the logic of a championship-caliber team deliberately avoiding the second apron for roster-building reasons, given that most of the roster-building restrictions imposed by the second apron don’t really hamstring a team that doesn’t require additional upgrades. But if the Thunder’s ownership group truly intends to spend big on the roster in future seasons, I don’t mind the decision to get out of second-apron territory this year.

The penalties related to frozen draft picks get worse the longer a team remains in the second apron, and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s super-max contract set to take effect in 2027 and a rookie scale extension due for Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City could end up operating above the second apron for multiple seasons beyond this one. If that’s the plan, ducking below it now at the cost of useful but inessential role players makes sense.

Up next

The Thunder currently have an open spot on their projected 15-man regular season roster, and while I don’t think they’re desperate to fill it, they showed last month when they signed Nuggets restricted free agent Spencer Jones to a two-year, $11.75MM offer sheet (which Denver matched) that they’re willing to do so.

At this point in the offseason, there probably isn’t a realistic free agent target who would cost the Thunder more than the veteran’s minimum. I’m skeptical they’re willing to further increase their tax bill for a minimum-salary player who likely wouldn’t play much and would compromise their back-end roster flexibility. In all likelihood, Oklahoma City will either keep that 15th roster spot open or carry a player on a non-guaranteed contract in that spot, allowing the team to potentially make an addition later in the season in a trade or on the buyout market.

The biggest preseason question looming over the Thunder is whether or not they’ll be able to work out a rookie scale extension with Wallace, a promising young guard who figures to play an increased role in 2026/27 following the departures of Dort, Joe, and Wiggins.

Wallace, 22, earned Defensive Player of the Year votes and made the All-Defensive second team in his third NBA season, but he has yet to show a whole lot offensively. His 8.6 points per game in 2025/26 represented a career high, and his shooting percentages dipped to a career-worst 43.2% from the floor and 35.1% on three-pointers.

If Wallace is an important part of Oklahoma City’s long-term plans, this might be the right time for the team to extend him. I suspect he has more upside as a scorer, shooter, and play-maker than he has displayed thus far, and his price tag could skyrocket if he has a breakout offensive season while playing more of a featured role.

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report suggested earlier this year that a five-year, $100MM rookie scale extension with a fifth-year team option might make sense for Wallace and the Thunder, while Keith Smith of Spotrac projected a four-year, $108MM deal with no options. I think Smith’s figures are probably more realistic, but if the club is able to get a deal in the range of $20-25MM annually, it shouldn’t hesitate to lock up Wallace. If the average annual value exceeds $25MM, the front office will have a more difficult decision to make.

Players with team or player options for the 2027/28 season are listed, unless they’re rookie scale options. Potential restricted free agents are marked with (RFA). Players on Exhibit 9 or Exhibit 10 deals in the fall of 2026 won’t be listed here unless they make the regular season roster.

This list will continue to be updated throughout the 2026/27 season, so be sure to use it and our list of 2027 free agents by position/type as points of reference.

Both lists can be found anytime under “Hoops Rumors Features” on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Free Agent Lists” section of our mobile menu. If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us.

Updated 8-29-26 (3:06 am CT)

Atlanta Hawks

1. Luguentz Dort
2. Mouhamed Gueye
3. Jock Landale
4. CJ McCollum
5. Ryan Nembhard (RFA)
6. Buddy Hield ($10,097,560 player option)
7. RayJ Dennis (two-way)
8. Keshon Gilbert (two-way)
9. Jalen Wilson (two-way)

Boston Celtics

1. Mike Conley
2. Luka Garza
3. Paul George ($56,586,670 player option)
4. Dillon Mitchell (two-way)
5. Amari Williams (two-way)

Brooklyn Nets

1. Michael Porter Jr.
2. Noah Clowney (RFA)
3. Julius Randle ($35,802,468 player option)
4. Day’Ron Sharpe ($10,000,000 team option)
5. Josh Minott ($4,500,000 team option)
6. Moritz Wagner ($9,450,000 mutual option)
7. Keon Ellis ($9,000,000 mutual option)
8. Tyler Bilodeau (two-way)
9. Chaney Johnson (two-way)

Charlotte Hornets

1. Pat Connaughton
2. Moussa Diabate
3. Grant Williams
4. Brandon Miller (RFA)
5. Grayson Allen ($19,375,000 player option)
6. PJ Hall (two-way)

Chicago Bulls

1. Leonard Miller
2. Isaac Okoro
3. Jalen Smith
4. Norman Powell ($22,575,000 team option)
5. Zach Collins ($8,500,000 team option)
6. Tre Jones ($8,000,000 team option)
7. Tobe Awaka (two-way)
8. Jaylin Sellers (two-way)

Cleveland Cavaliers

1. Thomas Bryant
2. Mario Hezonja
3. Craig Porter Jr.
4. Nae’Qwan Tomlin (RFA)
5. Tristan Enaruna (two-way)
6. Riley Minix (two-way)
7. Ernest Udeh Jr. (two-way)

Dallas Mavericks

1. Dereck Lively II (RFA)
2. Marcus Sasser (RFA)
3. Kyrie Irving ($42,416,562 player option)
4. Caleb Martin ($9,371,351 player option)
5. Max Christie ($8,857,143 player option)
6. Santi Aldama ($17,007,043 team option)
7. Tarik Biberovic ($3,000,000 team option)
8. Tobi Lawal (two-way)
9. John Poulakidas (two-way)
10. Jett Howard (two-way UFA)

Denver Nuggets

1. Marvin Bagley III
2. DeMar DeRozan
3. Cameron Johnson
4. Tyus Jones
5. Alpha Diallo (RFA)
6. Julian Strawther (RFA)
7. Nikola Jokic ($62,841,702 player option)
8. Zeke Nnaji ($7,466,667 player option)
9. KJ Simpson (two-way)

Detroit Pistons

1. Javonte Green
2. Gary Harris
3. Taurean Prince
4. Paul Reed
5. Daniss Jenkins (RFA)
6. Tolu Smith (RFA)
7. Ausar Thompson (RFA)
8. Isaiah Joe ($11,323,006 team option)
9. Elijah Harkless (two-way)
10. Isaac Jones (two-way)

Golden State Warriors

1. Charles Bassey
2. Jimmy Butler
3. Stephen Curry
4. Draymond Green
5. Georges Niang
6. Gary Payton II
7. Brandon Williams
8. Brandin Podziemski (RFA)
9. Kristaps Porzingis ($20,000,000 player option)
10. Al Horford ($7,163,100 player option)
11. De’Anthony Melton ($6,367,200 player option)
12. LJ Cryer (two-way)
13. Malevy Leons (two-way)

Houston Rockets

1. Bogdan Bogdanovic
2. Jae’Sean Tate
3. Fred VanVleet
4. Amen Thompson (RFA)
5. Kevin Durant ($46,097,561 player option)
6. Marcus Smart ($6,367,200 player option)
7. Quadir Copeland (two-way)

Indiana Pacers

1. Larry Nance Jr.
2. Ben Sheppard (RFA)
3. Jarace Walker (RFA)
4. Jay Huff ($3,005,085 team option)
5. Johnny Furphy ($2,486,995 team option)
6. Kobe Brown (two-way)
7. Jalen Slawson (two-way)
8. Braden Smith (two-way)

Los Angeles Clippers

1. Kris Dunn
2. Derrick Jones Jr.
3. Kawhi Leonard
4. Brook Lopez
5. Max Strus
6. Bradley Beal ($6,746,040 player option)
7. Rui Hachimura ($14,000,000 team option)
8. Cam Christie ($2,486,995 team option)
9. Jalen Pickett (two-way)
10. Jamarion Sharp (two-way)

Los Angeles Lakers

1. Jake LaRavia
2. Kevon Looney
3. Matisse Thybulle
4. Ziaire Williams
5. Jarred Vanderbilt ($13,285,714 player option)
6. Collin Sexton ($9,834,300 player option)
7. Jaden Hardy ($6,000,000 team option)
8. Bronny James ($2,486,995 team option)
9. Adou Thiero ($2,525,901 team option)
10. Arthur Kaluma (two-way)
11. Chris Manon (two-way)
12. AK Okereke (two-way)

Memphis Grizzlies

1. Taj Gibson
2. GG Jackson II
3. Olivier-Maxence Prosper
4. D’Angelo Russell
5. Taylor Hendricks (RFA)
6. Kris Murray (RFA)
7. Jerami Grant ($36,413,790 player option)
8. Ty Jerome ($9,659,100 player option)
9. Isaiah Stewart ($15,000,000 team option)
10. Scotty Pippen Jr. ($2,789,215 team option)
11. Jaylen Wells ($2,486,995 team option)
12. Jahmai Mashack (two-way)
13. Javon Small (two-way)

Miami Heat

1. Simone Fontecchio
2. Tim Hardaway Jr.
3. Davion Mitchell
4. Nick Richards
5. Pelle Larsson (RFA)
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($62,786,682 player option)
7. Bobby Portis ($15,597,074 player option)
8. Klay Thompson ($5,880,000 player option)
9. Dru Smith ($2,934,742 team option)
10. Tre Donaldson (two-way)
11. Vladislav Goldin (two-way)

Milwaukee Bucks

1. Tyler Herro
2. Kyle Kuzma
3. Caris LeVert
4. Kevin Porter Jr.
5. Jericho Sims
6. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (RFA)
7. Ryan Rollins ($4,000,000 player option)
8. Pete Nance ($2,756,912 team option)
9. Kam Jones (two-way)
10. Cormac Ryan (two-way)

Minnesota Timberwolves

1. Donte DiVincenzo
2. Josh Green
3. Bones Hyland
4. Trey Lyles
5. Rudy Gobert ($38,000,000 player option)
6. Jonathan Kuminga ($6,367,200 player option)
7. Enrique Freeman (two-way)
8. Zyon Pullin (two-way)
9. Rocco Zikarsky (two-way)

New Orleans Pelicans

1. Saddiq Bey
2. Jordan Poole
3. Trendon Watford
4. Jordan Hawkins (RFA)
5. Karlo Matkovic (RFA)
6. Dejounte Murray ($30,751,504 player option)
7. Bennedict Mathurin (TBD player option)
8. Bryce McGowens ($2,934,742 team option)
9. Malik Dia (two-way)
10. Jaron Pierre Jr. (two-way)

New York Knicks

1. Jordan Clarkson
2. Andre Drummond
3. Miles McBride
4. Karl-Anthony Towns ($61,015,192 player option)
5. Josh Hart ($22,375,280 team option)
6. Tyler Kolek ($2,486,995 team option)

Oklahoma City Thunder

1. Kenrich Williams
2. Cason Wallace (RFA)
3. Jaylin Williams ($7,774,648 team option)
4. Ajay Mitchell ($2,850,000 team option)
5. Brooks Barnhizer (two-way)
6. Josh Dix (two-way)
7. Otega Oweh (two-way)

Orlando Magic

1. Goga Bitadze
2. Jamal Cain
3. Jevon Carter
4. Jonathan Isaac
5. Nikola Vucevic
6. Anthony Black (RFA)
7. Colin Castleton (two-way)
8. Alex Morales (two-way)

Philadelphia 76ers

1. Dominick Barlow
2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
3. Jabari Walker
4. Ariel Hukporti (RFA)
5. Anfernee Simons ($6,300,000 player option)
6. LeBron James ($4,070,355 player option)
7. Justin Edwards ($2,616,754 team option)
8. Adem Bona ($2,486,995 team option)
9. Caleb Love (two-way)
10. Rayan Rupert (two-way)

Phoenix Suns

1. Jamaree Bouyea
2. Miles Bridges
3. Haywood Highsmith
4. Jalen Green ($36,000,000 player option)
5. Luke Kennard ($6,367,200 player option)
6. Oso Ighodaro ($2,486,995 team option)
7. Koby Brea (two-way)
8. CJ Huntley (two-way)
9. Pat Spencer (two-way)

Portland Trail Blazers

1. Branden Carlson
2. Sidy Cissoko
3. Micah Potter
4. Scoot Henderson (RFA)
5. Jrue Holiday ($37,200,000 player option)
6. Damian Lillard ($14,104,000 player option)
7. Vit Krejci ($3,005,085 team option)
8. Jayson Kent (two-way)
9. Chris Youngblood (two-way)

Sacramento Kings

1. De’Andre Hunter
2. Zach LaVine
3. Malik Monk ($21,582,451 player option)
4. Maxime Raynaud ($2,525,901 team option)

San Antonio Spurs

1. Harrison Barnes
2. Keldon Johnson
3. Jordan McLaughlin
4. Maliq Brown (two-way)
5. Ja’Kobi Gillespie (two-way)
6. David Jones Garcia (two-way)

Toronto Raptors

1. Kyle Anderson
2. RJ Barrett
3. Trayce Jackson-Davis
4. Jamison Battle (RFA)
5. Gradey Dick (RFA)
6. Jamal Shead (RFA)
7. Brandon Ingram ($41,904,762 player option)
8. Jaden Bradley (two-way)
9. Chucky Hepburn (two-way)
10. Trey Jemison (two-way)

Utah Jazz

1. John Konchar
2. Keyonte George (RFA)
3. Brice Sensabaugh (RFA)
4. Jaxson Hayes ($6,000,000 team option)
5. Josh Okogie ($6,000,000 team option)
6. Svi Mykhailiuk ($4,025,000 team option)
7. Mo Bamba ($3,700,320 team option)
8. Kyle Filipowski ($3,000,000 team option)
9. Trey Alexander (two-way)
10. Blake Hinson (two-way)

Washington Wizards

1. Deandre Ayton
2. Bilal Coulibaly (RFA)
3. Anthony Davis ($62,786,682 player option)
4. Tre Mann ($8,000,000 team option)
5. Justin Champagnie ($3,005,085 team option)
6. Tristan Vukcevic ($3,000,000 team option)
7. Felix Okpara (two-way)
8. Jamir Watkins (two-way)