2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

JSM · Jun 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM

Latest from Stein and Fischer

Hawks in the lead for NAW

The Hawks are now being more frequently projected by rival teams as the team in pole position — ahead of Detroit — to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a potential sign-and-trade deal with Minnesota.

The Hawks can comfortably absorb Alexander-Walker into their $25.3 million traded player exception that was created a year ago when Dejounte Murray was shipped to New Orleans. It appears that it would be the Timberwolves this time who create a trade exception in the process.
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Pistons targeting LaVert

The Pistons, meanwhile, are strongly expected to focus on signing Caris LeVert away from the Hawks
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DS to Kings still seems to be their big move

...while Sacramento — as we've been reporting for days — is widely expected to come to terms with Detroit's Dennis Schröder on a deal that some are projecting to run for two years and inch toward the $30 million range to become the Kings' starting point guard.
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Kings not done being dumb though...

Sources say that the Kings, furthermore, are believed to be weighing a run at an additional veteran ballhandler such as Russell Westbrook or Malcolm Brogdon even if they succeed in sealing a deal with Schröder.
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Pistons could look to Robinson to replace Betting Beas

The Pistons, meanwhile, are likewise said to be weighing a run at Miami's Duncan Robinson to potentially fill their sudden need for shooting in addition to the interest in LeVert. Robinson opted Sunday to bypass his $19.9 million player option for next season, but the move was made, sources said, with the expectation that the Heat and Robinson would work together on a new deal or pursue his exit via sign-and-trade.

The various possibilities Detroit is suddenly contemplating, mind you, represent quite an 11th-hour shift in planning for the Pistons, who were expecting to shake hands Monday on a multiyear deal with sharpshooter Malik Beasley. That was until news broke Sunday that the U.S. Attorney's Office has opened a federal investigation into allegations of gambling-related offenses while Beasley was playing for Milwaukee in 2023-24.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed Sunday that the league is "cooperating with the federal prosecutors' investigation."
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Grizz have eyes set on Jerome

Numerous rival teams have pinpointed Memphis as the team poised to enter Monday's business at the forefront of the Ty Jerome chase. Jerome, though, was intent on securing a deal that starts at the full $14.1 million midlevel exception after a breakout season in Cleveland, so it remains to be seen how much the Grizzlies are actually willing to pay Jerome given their well-chronicled determination to maintain sufficient financial flexibility to renegotiate-and-extend the contract of Jaren Jackson Jr. and match any offers for restricted free agent Santi Aldama.

League sources say Memphis spent the weekend actively trying to shed the contract of newly acquired Cole Anthony, who joined the Grizzlies as part of the Desmond Bane trade with Orlando, by finding a trade partner willing to absorb his salary.
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On the Ayton front

Ayton won't clear waivers until Wednesday at 5 PM ET, but he will instantly shoot to the forefront of the market for free agent centers that features the likes of Brook Lopez, Clint Capela and Al Horford.

Signing a center, of course, is the Lakers' well-chronicled top free agent priority along with their hopes of retaining Finney-Smith. Portland, meanwhile, will now have use of its full midlevel exception after parting ways with Ayton, who was entering the final season of his current contract at $35.6 million and whose future clearly was not in the Pacific Northwest after the Trail Blazers recent draft selections of Donovan Clingan and Hansen Yang and the rise of Duop Reath.
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DLO to Dallas seems like a lock

A two-year deal from Dallas approaching the $12 million range is widely expected for D'Angelo Russell … largely because the whole league knows that the Mavericks can only offer the former All-Star guard a two-year pact that starts at the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception.
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Bryant · Jun 29, 2025 at 10:40 PM

Slick2021 said: ↑

You guys must think playing 5 is easy. The kid is 26, and has averaged a double double for his career. There aren't many of those guys available. Finney-Smith's 8pts and 4 rebs can be replaced. It's not like he was on an All defense team or something.
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I just think he’s going to check out like D’Angelo. OMG he’s 26 and averages 10/10… but watching him play tells a vastly different story. He just only wants to collect checks.

One year deal is fine with me but giving him more than that is just asking for trouble.

432J · Jun 29, 2025 at 10:41 PM

not a fan of ayton at all, but can't complain if they're getting him at that price. especially when the alternative is jaxson hayes

svtzr · Jun 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM

If we can retain DFS and sign Ayton for the TPMLE, we’re in a good spot.

Luka / - / Bronny
Reaves / Goodwin
Rui / DFS / Adou
Lebron / -
Ayton / -

I’ve left Knecht, Gabe, Shake, Kleber and Vando off the list because we might trade some of them.

We could maybe go for Wiggins with a Gabe, Kleber, Knecht combination. That would move Rui to the backup PF slot and we’d start Wiggins.

pika1708 · Jun 30, 2025 at 12:04 AM

svtzr said: ↑

If we can retain DFS and sign Ayton for the TPMLE, we’re in a good spot.

Luka / - / Bronny
Reaves / Goodwin
Rui / DFS / Adou
Lebron / -
Ayton / -

I’ve left Knecht, Gabe, Shake, Kleber and Vando off the list because we might trade some of them.

We could maybe go for Wiggins with a Gabe, Kleber, Knecht combination. That would move Rui to the backup PF slot and we’d start Wiggins.
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Miami wants to compete. Either they are very high on Rui and believe he's an upgrade for them over Wiggins, or I don't see it happening. And it would only happen if Wiggins market was really dry

Well, I think I gotta warm up to Ayton after the buyout. Still don't like him at full MLE but it's probably happening. It's better than trading for him though. Would rather split the MLE in Capela+wing

svtzr · Jun 30, 2025 at 2:50 AM

pika1708 said: ↑

Miami wants to compete. Either they are very high on Rui and believe he's an upgrade for them over Wiggins, or I don't see it happening. And it would only happen if Wiggins market was really dry

Well, I think I gotta warm up to Ayton after the buyout. Still don't like him at full MLE but it's probably happening. It's better than trading for him though. Would rather split the MLE in Capela+wing
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Yeah you're probably right, maybe we should try to use the pick on one of these emerging 3&D guys. Keon Ellis seems like the best bet with the Kings picking up his offer.

Give them Knecht + 1st for Keon Ellis. Or ask about Keegan Murray.

I'd also be open to taking on a bad contract from them for an expiring if they have any? Valanciunas maybe? Or whoever.

LakeShowAZ · Jun 30, 2025 at 2:51 AM

Lakers need to find a way to unlock the fire inside Ayton

If we can get him to commit to working out and playing with full effort all the time this would be a huge move

Do the Lakers have the staff and veterans to get through to this guy?

He has to know the legacy of the team centers and should want to do whatever he needs to be a part of that

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2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

JSM - Lakers Legend -

Bryant - Lakers 6th Man -

432J - Lakers All Star -

svtzr - Lakers Starter -

pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

svtzr - Lakers Starter -

LakeShowAZ - Rookie -

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