With the official begin of NBA free company just a bit over 24 hours away, let’s dive into a few of the newest rumors and reporting round what numerous gamers and groups will do when it opens.
Wolves say “hell NAW” to retaining key free agent
Essentially the most definitive replace right here is from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who’ve reached new agreements with each Naz Reid and Julius Randle during the last a number of days. Nonetheless, the scale of these contracts (4 years and $125 million for Reid, and three years, $100 million for Randle) at all times meant that the Wolves would in all probability not have the ability to retain key reserve Nickeil Alexander-Walker with out exceeding the second apron, which all-but-guaranteed NAW could be on his approach out the door simply from a sheer monetary perspective.
And within the aftermath of Randle’s new deal being reported, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic — lengthy probably the most plugged-in voice on the Wolves beat — reported what many already suspected to be true, that Alexander-Walker must search a payday elsewhere:
This deal does imply that NAW shall be headed elsewhere. Wolves have folks behind him prepared for a shot they usually’re going to get it
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) June 29, 2025
Alexander-Walker was a beloved contributor to the Wolves’ back-to-back convention finals runs, however the brand new CBA and harsh apron penalties that got here with it ensured that overqualified bench gamers like him will usually shortly turn into an unaffordable luxurious for his or her incumbent groups.
As of Sunday morning, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein described the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks as the “strongest contenders” to signal NAW away from Minnesota.
Did LeBron James simply soft-launch a commerce request?
LeBron James opting in to his $52.6 million participant choice with the Lakers for subsequent season was at all times the anticipated consequence, however quotes from his agent, Wealthy Paul, to ESPN’s Shams Charania within the aftermath of the choice definitely left the door open for lots of reads about his final intentions (emphasis mine):
“LeBron desires to compete for a championship,” Paul advised ESPN. “He is aware of the Lakers are constructing for the longer term. He understands that, however he values a sensible likelihood of successful all of it. We’re very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and contemplate the Lakers as a crucial a part of his profession.
“We perceive the issue in successful now whereas getting ready for the longer term. We do wish to consider what’s finest for LeBron at this stage in his life and profession. He desires to make each season he has left rely, and the Lakers perceive that, are supportive and wish what’s finest for him.”
LeBron desires to win a title subsequent 12 months adopted by an announcement that means the 40-year-old doesn’t imagine that’s the intention the Lakers have for this season definitely says lots. But when this can be a commerce demand, it’s one which Paul and LeBron are doing their finest to verify James doesn’t get fined for. As an alternative, these quotes paint the image of a star attempting to border his time with the Lakers positively in order that they don’t take a reputational hit along with his exodus, whereas additionally very a lot letting followers (and the crew’s entrance workplace) know that he’d wish to try to compete for a title elsewhere subsequent 12 months as he nears retirement.
Each the Lakers and James are incentivized to work collectively right here. For the Lakers, LeBron trying to transfer in a commerce may really be doing them an enormous favor even when that wasn’t his intent, as it might enable them to (not less than in principle) get property again for him reasonably than him simply retiring and leaving Los Angeles with nothing. The strikes required for them to reset round Luka Doncic had been at all times going to be tougher with LeBron making a lot cash, and his asking out might allow them to begin to reset their books with out having to ask him to take a paycut or use certainly one of his ultimate seasons as a pseudo hole 12 months.
For James, opting in retains his no-trade clause, which supplies him some energy over his subsequent vacation spot in a league with restricted cap house so as to add a wage of his measurement. Nonetheless, his opting in additionally forces him to not less than attempt to play good with the Lakers in order that each side can extricate themselves from this partnership amicably reasonably than tarnishing each of their manufacturers with an unsightly commerce demand saga. The crew will wish to preserve its rep for doing proper by stars and thus most likely gained’t play hardball, however finally nonetheless does have the ultimate say and don’t have to simply ship LeBron someplace in change for dangerous cash or detrimental asset worth.
LeBron James has a no commerce clause, so he has management over his future in a possible commerce.
Much more life like for him to get to a different crew by opting in as a substitute of an indication and commerce.
Beneath apron groups would wish to ship out $43.1 million to match his wage and commerce bonus.
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 29, 2025
We’ll see how this all shakes out, however it seems James and the Lakers are headed for a separation. The one query remaining past The King’s (probably ultimate) vacation spot is easy: Who will get Bronny within the divorce?
The Lakers could also be in for an even bigger overhaul than anticipated
LeBron opting in wasn’t the one notable Lakers contractual information on the eve of free company. Lakers ahead and shut good friend of Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, opted out of his $15.4 million participant choice, permitting him to enter a free company market the place he’s seen as one of many high veteran targets. If Finney-Smith really departs and James is shipped elsewhere, that will be almost $65 million value of gamers from final 12 months’s roster who’re now not with the crew, a large changeover.
The gamers the Lakers bought again in any hypothetical James commerce would make it in order that the Lakers don’t merely unencumber that a lot cap house outright, however it might go away them in for a transition 12 months round Luka… with their new star on the eve of extension eligibility on Aug. 2, so suffice to say this free company shall be an early take a look at of their latest star partnership, and inform us lots about how a lot of his future Doncic is prepared to decide to Los Angeles whereas the crew nonetheless has work to do to discipline a contender round him.
Newest on Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors
In his story on Duncan Robinson’s free company choices, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald was the newest to report that Miami has “some degree of curiosity” in Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. This comes on the heels for each Shams and Anthony Slater of The Athletic hinting this week that the Warmth may very well be in pursuit of a sign-and-trade for the Warriors’ former lottery decide.
Golden State can clearly select to not take part in any sign-and-trade to get Kuminga the place he desires to go, and may match any supply given to him on a (dry) open market from a crew that creates the cap house to present him one. However Kuminga might additionally name their bluff, take tinheritor $7.9 million qualifying supply for subsequent season, after which decide his personal crew subsequent summer season in unrestricted free company, so each side have a point of motivation to discover a win-win right here.
Elsewhere with the Warriors, 2022 champion Gary Payton II is claimed to be unlikely to return in free company, with Monty Poole of NBC Sports activities reporting {that a} supply advised him it was “uncertain” Payton is again in Golden State.
“Golden State nonetheless likes him, and there’s nonetheless an opportunity he’s again,” one other supply stated of the Warriors. “However they’ve quite a lot of transferring components as they work by the Jonathan Kuminga scenario, so Gary might land elsewhere subsequent season.”
Our personal Joe Viray wrote for Golden State of Thoughts that that is an comprehensible replace from the Warriors’ aspect on account of Payton’s checkered current well being historical past:
Ought to Payton depart, the Warriors will miss his peskiness on the level of assault, athleticism uncommon in a 6’3” body, and his presence within the locker room. However the aforementioned accidents and inconsistency on the courtroom — in addition to the prioritization of Kuminga and different potential acquisitions — might push Payton out of the group that has given him the very best stretch of his skilled profession.
NBA free company formally begins tomorrow, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, when free brokers are allowed to barter contracts with any groups across the league. Mentioned contracts can not formally be signed till July 6, nevertheless, giving gamers and groups a number of days to mull their finest choices because the musical chairs refill and commerce dominoes fall.
