All articles tagged with #sign and trade
NBA insider Jake Fischer says Jonathan Kuminga’s next team likely hinges on a Lakers vs. Timberwolves path, with a sign-and-trade framework and salary considerations shaping the deal; Chicago could also enter the mix, while other notes touch on Bruce Brown’s market, Nick Richards to the Heat, and ongoing chatter around Jalen Duren and Nikola Jokic.
Restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin is deciding between re-signing with the Clippers on a one-year qualifying offer ($8.7M) and becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027, or joining the Pelicans via a sign-and-trade using the Non-Taxpayer MLE, with New Orleans weighing cap moves (including potentially moving Jordan Hawkins) to stay under the luxury tax; the QO path yields a one-year no-trade clause, while the S&T path would reshape both teams’ cap situations.
NBA trade chatter suggests Cleveland will acquire Peyton Watson from Denver in a four-year, $88M sign‑and‑trade as part of a five‑team deal with the Clippers, Wizards, and Hornets; the package reportedly includes Cam Whitmore to Washington, Ismael Kamagate potentially headed to Cleveland (destination not finalized), Max Strus to the Clippers, Dennis Schröder to the Hornets, and Tre Mann to Washington, with Denver receiving Julian Reese (two-way) and Cavaliers’ 2031 first-round pick plus a Cavaliers/Kings 2032 second-round pick. Kamagate’s landing spot remains unsettled. The move’s broader impact centers on Cleveland’s cap strategy (including a potential DeMar DeRozan re-signing), Nuggets’ status above the second apron, and how the other teams’ cap/TPE situations shake out; the deal isn’t official yet and could still change.
Predicts where the 10 biggest unsigned NBA free agents will land, including Peyton Watson to Cleveland via sign-and-trade (4 years, $92M); Jalen Duren re-signing with Detroit (4 years, $140M); Bennedict Mathurin re-signing with the Clippers on an $8.8M qualifying offer; Jonathan Kuminga joining the Lakers in a one-year, $10M sign-and-trade; James Harden re-signing with the Cavaliers (3 years, $108M); Kevin Love signing with the Heat on a veteran minimum; DeMar DeRozan signing with the Raptors on a veteran minimum; Cam Thomas unsigned (likely overseas); Bruce Brown returning to Denver on a veteran minimum; Brandon Williams signing with the Warriors for two years, $6M.
The NBA is reviewing the Milwaukee Bucks' four-year, $64 million deal for Gary Trent Jr., a raise earned via early Bird rights after two seasons on the veteran's minimum; Trent averaged 8.1 points on 36.0% from three in 65 games last season, with reports of interest from another team in a potential sign-and-trade.
Milwaukee reportedly signed Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million deal that is expected to be fully guaranteed, with ESPN’s Shams Charania noting another team was exploring a similar sign-and-trade; such chatter is tempered by questions over guarantees and fit. Tyler Herro says he wants to move past his Miami exit and Vegas altercation with Bam Adebayo, and he would have chosen the Bucks if not with the Heat. Thanasis Antetokounmpo will not return to Milwaukee for 2026–27, and the Bucks are also mentioned as having sign-and-trade interest in Peyton Watson.
The Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing Jonathan Kuminga, reportedly eyeing a two-year, $20 million deal and exploring a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks due to cap constraints; the Hawks declined Kuminga's 2026-27 option, and LA could offer assets like Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia plus draft picks to facilitate a deal, though Kuminga's price could complicate talks.
Atlanta is reportedly exploring a sign-and-trade that would send Jonathan Kuminga from the Lakers to the Hawks in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first‑round pick swap. The Lakers are interested in Kuminga but need a path to a larger contract, making a sign‑and‑trade their most realistic option, while Cleveland has also shown interest if Kuminga lands elsewhere; the Lakers are weighing wings with size/defense as potential targets if Kuminga stays in L.A.
Atlanta is reportedly willing to facilitate a sign-and-trade that would send Jonathan Kuminga to the Lakers in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick swap. The Hawks would gain assets while avoiding Kuminga’s option, and the Lakers would evaluate the deal’s value and potentially move Vanderbilt to create cap flexibility, given their tight roster and limited draft capital. Kuminga averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season with 33.3% from three, leaving room for a potentially improved deal if numbers align.
ESPN’s breakdown outlines a not-official six-team megadeal among Dallas (Mavs), Memphis (Grizzlies), Detroit (Pistons), Washington (Wizards), Milwaukee (Bucks) and the Clippers, with the Mavericks landing Santi Aldama and Marcus Sasser, the Grizzlies receiving Isaiah Stewart, D’Angelo Russell and AJ Johnson, the Wizards acquiring Khris Middleton, the Pistons getting John Collins, and the Bucks obtaining Caris LeVert, plus a web of draft picks and traded-exceptions to optimize salaries and avoid hard caps. The plan relies on sign-and-trade moves and cap gymnastics; final terms are subject to change and the deal is not official yet.
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is back for his 22nd season, and GM Chris Patrick’s offseason move to add Alex Tuch via a sign-and-trade gives Washington a credible path back to the playoffs, backed by an over-35 contract that starts with a $1 million base and a $4.25 million cap hit with incentives.
As free agency opens, the top remaining players include Jalen Duren, LeBron James, James Harden, Draymond Green, Rui Hachimura, Jonathan Kuminga, Anfernee Simons, Bennedict Mathurin, Spencer Jones, Tari Eason and Brandon Williams, with most others having already signed. Detroit appears to hold leverage over Duren as sign-and-trade momentum fades; LeBron is weighing multiple teams prioritizing happiness and contention over money. Harden and Green are expected to re-sign with Cavaliers and Warriors, respectively, while Watson, Eason, Mathurin, and Jones—restricted free agents—could drag; Kuminga has drawn Lakers interest potentially via sign-and-trade. A number of veteran names—Middleton, Westbrook, Brown, Okogie, Thybulle, Trent Jr., Ziaire Williams, Looney, Beal—remain on the board. Full tracker and team lists are linked in the article.
Los Angeles Lakers acquire center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade, sending back two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler signs a four-year, $130 million contract with a player option in year four and a full trade kicker, as the Lakers reboot their roster in a post-LeBron era.
As free agency opens, the Pistons face a potential setback: Jalen Duren, a restricted free agent, is weighing offers from the Lakers and Kings and exploring sign-and-trade options, while Tobias Harris visits multiple teams, raising the risk Detroit could lose two core contributors and forcing cap‑related decisions.
The Lakers had a productive first meeting with Jalen Duren and will meet again, signaling a potential max-contract bid; Detroit can match any offer, while the Kings are also pursuing him via sign-and-trade, keeping Duren in play as the Lakers weigh Center options (even though reports say they originally preferred Walker Kessler).