Tyrese Haliburton Shares Injury Rehab Update
While hosting a youth basketball camp in Wisconsin on Friday, Tyrese Haliburton addressed his recovery from the Achilles tear that forced him to miss the majority of Game 7 of the NBA Finals and will sideline him for the entire 2025/26 season, expressing eagerness to eventually rejoin the Pacers.
“It’s been up and down. I’m finally walking without the use of crutches or a scooter or anything, so that’s exciting for me,” Haliburton said, as recorded by Kyle Malzhan of WFRV (Twitter video link).
While the road back to health is a long and, at times, frustrating one, Haliburton seemed encouraged by the initial milestones he has hit so far.
“I have good days and bad days… I think every couple weeks, it’s kind of like a new achievement, I guess, in terms of my recovery,” he said. “I think over the next couple weeks, we’ll get closer to me being able to wear shoes full-time without a boot and being able to walk and stuff like that.”
Haliburton was candid about the mental challenges of the recovery process and how he has been able to find the positive in the grind of rehabilitation.
“It’s a long process. This injury, to get back to 100% is usually about a year long,” he said. “We’re only at week six, week seven now, so we still got a lot of time to get there, but I think every little progression is exciting for me. To be here, to be able to walk, it means a lot to me… I have a great medical team behind me that’s really helping me get things done. I’m progressing as well as I can right now, meeting with my surgeon, meeting with my medical staff at all times.”
After getting so close to winning the first championship in Pacers’ franchise history, Haliburton said he isn’t letting this setback distract him from his goals:
“When you look back on the year that was and how special it was, it means a lot for me. When I am able to get back to 100% the chase continues, so that’s the exciting part for me.”
Charles Lee Talks Hornets’ Offseason
The Hornets have had a busy offseason.
They traded Jusuf Nurkic to the Jazz for Collin Sexton and a second-round pick and drafted Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sion James, and Liam McNeeley, who was selected with a pick that came over after trading Mark Williams to the Suns. They also added Pat Connaughton, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Mason Plumlee, either via trade or free agency, and retained free agent Tre Mann.
After getting only 74 combined games out of franchise cornerstones LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, the latter of whom is nearly fully recovered from wrist surgery, they will also be hoping for some better health luck this season.
Head coach Charles Lee went on Charlotte sports radio station WFNZ to discuss the team’s moves, preview the rotation outlook, and provide some injury updates.
Lee talked about the addition of Sexton, what was attractive about him from Charlotte’s standpoint, and what he will bring to the team this season.
“[Hornets’ general manager Jeff Peterson] and his group, they’re just so well prepared,” Lee said. “… They understand what we need to do from a roster depth and balance standpoint, too. And I think, as they were approached with the situation, they broke it down, they prepared like they usually do, they chopped it up, and figured out what makes sense for our team going forward.
“I’ve been very excited about Collin Sexton joining our group. From afar, I’ve always witnessed him competing at a really high level. Since he’s been with our group and around our group, he’s elevated the intensity. He’s definitely a sociable and in-your-face type guy, but I love it. I think he’s going to add a lot to our group and our culture.”
When asked about the influx of guards to the roster, which now features Ball, Sexton, Knueppel, Mann, Dinwiddie, James, and Nick Smith Jr., Lee expressed excitement about the possibilities presented by having so many players capable of handling the ball.
“I think we had a pretty good roster last year, but this year we are definitely a little more versatile,” he said. “Having so many guards and so many competitors with high basketball IQ, it’s gonna help us be able to play in a lot of different ways. If we watch the league, everybody’s playing a lot faster, it’s becoming a lot more positionless, and so I think with this versatility that we have of our roster, having a lot more guards, having a lot more ball-handlers that can help us hopefully create some more open shots. I’m really excited to see how it all comes together.”
Charlotte’s center rotation in the wake of the Williams trade remains a question mark, but Lee seemed confident in the various looks the different big men can bring to the team.
“We can play a lot of different ways this year, having Plumlee, having Kalkbrenner, having [Moussa Diabate], it allows you to be in center field sometimes or be able to switch. It’s a good balance,” he said.
Specifically addressing the offseason addition of Plumlee, who is expected by some to begin the season as the starting center, Lee said the Hornets are getting a player with “a ton of experience” who understands what it takes to win.
“He’s been used as a starter, he’s been used as a role player coming off the bench. He’s going to be able to adapt to whatever we need, I think that he’s going to be able to give a lot of corporate knowledge of the NBA,” Lee said. “He’s a professional, he’s in every day, focused on his body, focused on improving in the weight room, and even however many years he’s been in the league now, he understands and has a growth mindset, which is really important, I think, for our group and being open minded.”
Lee went on to praise the two younger big men who will play alongside Plumlee too.
“I think Moussa had a phenomenal opportunity this summer,” Lee said. “He’s continued to grow, he’s one of our great success stories from a player development standpoint, and his all-in and commitment to trying to be better, try to be the most versatile and energetic big that he can possibly be. And we saw what Ryan brings in Summer League. I think he’s gonna be able to play both sides of the court at a really high level. I see a lot of Brook Lopez in him.”
Finally, Lee shared injury updates on Grant Williams, who has been rehabbing after tearing his right ACL and meniscus, and Josh Green, who underwent shoulder surgery this summer:
“I think both guys have been attacking their rehab plans really well. I always have to give credit to our performance staff and to our coaching staff. They work so well together in putting together these roadmaps for our guys to be able to return to play. Both guys are making really good progress.”
However, when it came to their respective returns to action, he stopped short of any definitive proclamations.
“I can’t put a timetable on it as of right now of when they’ll be back, but they are making positive strides, and I’m just really happy with how they show up every day, how they’re attacking their rehab,” Lee said. “You take a couple steps forward and then all of a sudden you might have a step back, but I think that their mindset has been not to let that slow them down, and they’re really focused on trying to be around the team and get back to the team as soon as they can.”
Nuggets To Add Mike Moser, Chase Buford To Coaching Staff
The Nuggets have added Mike Moser to their coaching staff as an assistant coach, reports Michael Scotto for HoopsHype (via Twitter). They are also set to hire Chase Buford as an assistant under new head coach David Adelman, Scotto adds (Twitter link).
Moser played professionally overseas for five years before becoming an NBA coach. He has previously worked in player development for the Mavericks and Celtics, and spent the last two seasons as an assistant for the Rockets. He has a longstanding history with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.
According to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, Moser’s time in Houston consisted primarily of working with the team’s wing players.
Buford is the son of Spurs CEO and longtime general manager R.C. Buford. He was named head coach of the Bucks’ G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, in 2021 before eventually taking over as head coach of the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball Laegue. He spent last season as an analyst for the University of Kansas, where he played for three seasons as a walk-on collegiate player.
Latest On Jonathan Kuminga
There has been “renewed” dialogue between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga‘s camp during the last week as the two sides continue to propose contract concepts, ESPN’s Anthony Slater said during a Friday appearance on NBA Today (YouTube link).
As he has reported previously, Slater says that Kuminga and his representatives are seeking a contract that positions him to be more of a building block than simply a trade chip.
“The word I’ve heard used from the Kuminga side is ‘pawn,'” Slater said. “He doesn’t want to sign this two-year, $45MM deal with a team option where he is clearly just being used to be traded mid-season. That’s not something he wants to sign up for.
“Now if you’re talking about a three-year deal, if you’re talking about something with a player option that shows him a little bit more commitment, that’s something he’d be interested in. But as of now, the Warriors have been hesitant to do that, and because of that, Kuminga is signaling to those around him that he’s very willing – and prefers – (to sign) the qualifying offer over the two-year, $45MM deal. That’s dangerous for the Warriors. They can try to call his bluff, but right now, it seems to be trending toward the qualifying offer.”
A handful of Warriors free agent targets – including big man Al Horford – are awaiting resolution on the Kuminga situation before they can potentially finalize deals with Golden State. However, with training camps not scheduled to start until the end of September and no crucial dates coming up for restricted free agents until the October 1 deadline to accept a qualifying offer, Slater wouldn’t be surprised if the standoff extends into September.
“August is a lot easier for people to just be like, ‘OK, we’ll get to you when we get to you,'” Slater said. “September’s where it starts to get a little bit more uncomfortable. I don’t know if there will be movement or a little bit more angst on the Warriors’ or Kuminga’s side, but September is where this could get a little bit dicier.”
As Slater acknowledges, it would be somewhat surprising if Kuminga gives up $14MM in 2025/26 salary and signs his $8MM qualifying offer instead of taking a two-year, $45MM offer from Golden State. But accepting the QO would put him in a better position to dictate his future, since it comes with a no-trade clause for ’25/26 and the ability to reach unrestricted free agency next summer.
[RELATED: Details On Qualifying Offers For Remaining RFAs]
“You talk to people around him and he’s pretty dug in,” Slater said. “If two for $45MM with the team option is going to be the best offer, he will see them in training camp on an ($8MM) expiring qualifying offer which includes a no-trade clause. Because he wants either to be viewed as more of a building block or he wants his freedom, his control of his future. And the qualifying offer, while less money, gives him control of his future.”
Bulls Have Reportedly Rebuffed Trade Interest In Coby White
The Bulls have received a number of trade inquiries about guard Coby White this offseason, but there has been no indication that they’re looking to move him as he enters a contract year, according to Ashish Mathur of Dallas Hoops Journal.
“I know multiple teams tried to trade for Coby this summer,” an NBA executive told Mathur. “There was some chatter that he was almost traded on draft night. The Bulls love him though. He’s not going anywhere. They have shot down trade inquiries for him.”
The idea that the Bulls may have nearly traded White on draft night and have also “shot down” inquiries on him seem to be at odds, but the executive’s remarks may indicate that the team hasn’t been willing to seriously engage on trade discussions regarding White since draft night.
The seventh overall pick in 2019, White was a regular rotation player off the bench for the Bulls for his first four seasons before taking on an increased role as a full-time starter over the past two years.
He set a career high with 19.1 points per game in 2023/24, then topped that figure with 20.4 PPG in ’24/25. The 25-year-old has also put up 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest while making 37.3% of his three-pointers since the start of the ’23/24 season.
White emerged as Chicago’s go-to scoring option down the stretch this past spring after the team traded away Zach LaVine. The 6’5″ guard averaged 25.0 PPG in his final 25 outings and led the Bulls to a 17-8 record in those games.
While the Bulls did well to re-sign White to a three-year, $36MM contract as a restricted free agent in 2023, that team-friendly deal has made it virtually impossible to sign him to an extension before he reaches unrestricted free agency in 2026. Chicago could go up to about $87MM over four years, but White likely believes he’ll receive more lucrative offers on the open market next summer, either from the Bulls or another suitor (or both).
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Veteran Contract Extension]
There has been some speculation that an inability to extend White ahead of free agency might make the Bulls more inclined to consider trading him rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer, and Chicago may still consider that route before February’s trade deadline. But for now it sounds like the team is confident about its ability to re-sign White next July.
The Bulls will hold White’s full Bird rights and have a pretty clean cap sheet going forward, so they’re well positioned to make a strong offer in free agency, but they wouldn’t have the right of first refusal if the guard decides he wants to play elsewhere.
Heat Trade Haywood Highsmith To Nets
The Heat and Nets have agreed to a trade that sends wing Haywood Highsmith to Brooklyn along with a 2032 second-round pick in exchange for a protected 2026 second-rounder, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter links).
The Nets have officially confirmed the deal, announcing that they’ve acquired Miami’s unprotected 2032 second-round selection and Highsmith in exchange for their own top-55 protected 2026 second-rounder.
It’s a financially motivated deal for the Heat, who will move under the luxury tax line as a result of the move. Miami entered the day operating about $1.6MM above the tax threshold with 14 players under contract.
Sending Highsmith’s expiring $5.6MM contract to Brooklyn will give the Heat nearly $4MM in breathing room below the tax, with at least one standard roster spot to fill before the season begins — the club will likely keep its 15th roster spot open to start the season to avoid going back above the tax line.
The Heat were always considered likely to duck the tax this season in order to reset their repeater clock.
When I identified Miami earlier this month as a good bet to make a cost-cutting move, I mentioned Highsmith as a potential trade candidate and speculated that he should have a little value based on his play as a three-and-D wing last season. The 28-year-old made 74 appearances (42 starts) for the Heat, averaging 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game and posting a .458/.382/.721 shooting line.
However, word broke last Friday that Highsmith had sustained a torn meniscus during an offseason workout and underwent surgery to address the injury. The recovery process is expected to sidelined him for at least eight-to-10 weeks, jeopardizing his availability for the start of the season and reducing his value as a trade chip, which is why the Heat had to give up a second-round pick to move him.
Miami will create a trade exception worth Highsmith’s outgoing salary ($5,616,000), which the club will have one year to use.
As for the Nets, they continue to use their cap room to stockpile draft assets, having acquired a pair of first-round picks in separate deals for Michael Porter Jr. and Terance Mann earlier this summer. It’s unclear whether or not Highsmith will be part of their plans for the 2025/26 season, given that there may be a roster crunch in Brooklyn, but taking on his contract puts only a small dent into their remaining cap space.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, Brooklyn still has $22MM in room after accounting for Cam Thomas‘ $12.1MM cap hold, though that figure doesn’t include reported two-year, $12MM deals with Day’Ron Sharpe or Ziaire Williams, which aren’t yet official. One of those signings could be completed using the room exception, but at least one will have to use the Nets’ cap space.
Isaac Nogues Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Valencia
Free agent guard Isaac Nogues has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with Valencia Basket in his home country of Spain, the club announced in a press release.
Nogues, 21, spent the 2024/25 season in the NBA G League with the Rip City Remix, Portland’s affiliate. He made a total of 40 appearances for the Trail Blazers’ NBAGL team, averaging 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 21.1 minutes per game, before going undrafted in June.
While his offensive contributions were limited, the 6’5″ guard (who has a 6’10” wingspan) was named to the NBAGL’s All-Defensive team and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
We typically wouldn’t dedicate a full story to an undrafted player without any NBA experience signing with a EuroLeague team, but Nogues’ agreement is notable because reporting in June indicated that he had agreed to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the NBA’s Kings and would be competing for a two-way deal in Sacramento this fall.
That signing never became official, and it seems it won’t happen now that Nogues has found a more appealing offer overseas. He’ll have a clearer path to playing time with Valencia and will be located just a few hours down the coast from Badalona, where he was born and where he began his professional basketball career.
Celtics Sign Amari Williams To Two-Way Contract
The Celtics have signed second-round pick Amari Williams to a two-way contract, according to the NBA’s official transaction log (hat tip to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype).
Williams, who spent his first four college seasons at Drexel, transferred to Kentucky in 2024 for his super-senior year. In 36 games (all starts) last season, the 6’11” forward/center filled up the box score with averages of 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks in just 22.8 minutes per game.
The Celtics traded down from No. 32 on draft night in June and used their newly acquired 46th overall pick to select Williams. At the time, then-ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reported that the big man would be signing a two-way contract with Boston, but it took a while for the deal to actually come to fruition.
The Celtics carried over Miles Norris from last season on his two-year, two-way contract, signed 57th overall pick Max Shulga to a two-way deal in July, and acquired two-way player RJ Luis in a trade with Utah earlier this month. The club subsequently waived Norris in order to open up a two-way slot for Williams.
Williams will earn a salary of $636,435 if he spends the full season on his two-way contract and will be eligible to appear in up to 50 NBA regular season games. He’ll likely be transferred back and forth between the NBA and the G League many times over the course of his rookie year.
With Williams now under contract, the Celtics are carrying 18 players on their offseason roster, including their three two-ways. Twelve of the other 15 players have guaranteed standard contracts, while Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta are on partially guaranteed deals and Hayden Gray has an Exhibit 10 contract.
The top 50 players from this year’s draft have now signed NBA contracts for 2025/26 or are committed to playing in a non-NBA league, as our tracker shows.
Cash Sent, Received In NBA Trades For 2025/26
During each NBA league year, teams face limits on the amount of cash they can send out and receive in trades. Once they reach those limits, they’re no longer permitted to include cash in a deal until the following league year.
For the 2025/26 NBA season, the limit is $7,964,000.
The limits on sending and receiving cash are separate and aren’t dependent on one another, so if a team sends out $7,964,000 in one trade, then receives $7,964,000 in another, they aren’t back to square one — they’ve reached both limits for the season and can’t make another deal that includes cash.
Adding cash to a deal can serve multiple purposes. It can be a sweetener to encourage a team to make a deal in the first place – like when a club acquires a second-round pick in exchange for cash, or sends out an unwanted contract along with cash – or it can be a necessity to meet CBA requirements.
Teams operating above the second tax apron are prohibited from sending out cash in a trade. For the time being, that restriction applies to one teams: Cleveland. The Cavaliers could only send out cash if they dip below the second apron.
We’ll use the space below to track each team’s cash sent and received in trades for the 2025/26 season, updating the info as necessary leading up to the 2026 trade deadline and for the first part of the 2026 offseason next June. These totals will reset once the ’26/27 league year begins on July 1.
Atlanta Hawks
- Cash available to send: $3,464,000
- Sent $1,500,000 to Timberwolves.
- Sent $3,000,000 to Jazz.
- Cash available to receive: $7,768,700
Boston Celtics
- Cash available to send: $4,464,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,754,000
Brooklyn Nets
- Cash available to send: $6,644,000
- Cash available to receive: $4,464,000
- Received $3,500,000 from Clippers.
Charlotte Hornets
- Cash available to send: $7,854,000
- Sent $110,000 to Magic.
- Cash available to receive: $4,464,000
- Received $3,500,000 from Celtics.
Chicago Bulls
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,464,000
- Received $500,000 from Knicks.
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Cash available to send:
$7,964,000 - Cash available to receive: $7,854,000
- Received $110,000 from Jazz.
Note: The Cavaliers are ineligible to send out cash as long as they’re operating over the second apron.
Dallas Mavericks
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Denver Nuggets
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Detroit Pistons
- Cash available to send: $6,864,000
- Sent $1,100,000 to Timberwolves.
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Golden State Warriors
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Houston Rockets
- Cash available to send: $7,878,700
- Sent $85,300 to Hawks.
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Indiana Pacers
- Cash available to send: $5,464,000
- Sent $2,500,000 to Spurs.
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Los Angeles Clippers
- Cash available to send: $1,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Los Angeles Lakers
- Cash available to send: $4,714,000
- Sent $3,250,000 to Timberwolves.
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Memphis Grizzlies
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Miami Heat
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Milwaukee Bucks
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $3,464,000
- Received $4,500,000 from Suns.
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $2,114,000
New Orleans Pelicans
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,575,000
- Received $389,000 from Knicks.
New York Knicks
- Cash available to send: $7,075,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Cash available to send: $7,214,000
- Sent $750,000 to Jazz.
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Orlando Magic
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,854,000
- Received $110,000 from Magic.
Philadelphia 76ers
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Phoenix Suns
- Cash available to send: $3,464,000
- Sent $4,500,000 to Bucks.
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Portland Trail Blazers
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Sacramento Kings
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
San Antonio Spurs
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,464,000
- Received $2,500,000 from Pacers.
Toronto Raptors
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Utah Jazz
- Cash available to send: $7,854,000
- Sent $110,000 to Cavaliers.
- Cash available to receive: $843,000
Washington Wizards
- Cash available to send: $7,964,000
- Cash available to receive: $7,964,000
Data from Eric Pincus of Sports Business Classroom was used in the creation of this post.
Sixers Unsure About Joel Embiid’s Status For Start Of Training Camp
With training camp about six weeks away, the Sixers aren’t certain if Joel Embiid will be ready to participate. Head coach Nick Nurse discussed the health status of his star center and the team’s misfortunes from last season in an interview with Brian T. Smith of TalkSport.
Speaking Tuesday at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Europe camp in Manchester, England, Nurse said he’s “not sure” if Embiid will be cleared to participate when camp begins next month. However, he added an encouraging spin by saying “all the news is positive” so far.
“I know he’s working very, very hard and I think things look good,” Nurse said. “Whether he’s ready for training camp or not, I think there’s maybe a lot more decisions than that to make before we get there. But our main thing is that he’s healthy to play and play to his nearest capabilities, because he’s awesome, no doubt about that.”
Embiid hasn’t come close to playing a full season since winning MVP honors in 2023. He was limited to 39 games in 2023/24 before having meniscus surgery on his left knee and appeared in just 19 games last season before being shut down in February due to lingering concerns about the knee. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in April.
Nurse’s comments represent the first health update on Embiid since president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said following the draft that he was on track for recovery “right around” the start of camp. Regardless of the condition of his knee by then, the Sixers will be cautious with Embiid and try to gradually prepare him for the season opener.
“When he’s on the floor and any night he’s out there, we’ve got a chance to win, which is amazing,” Nurse said. “We just want to make sure and get him healthy and let him play for a longer period of time.”
Philadelphia plummeted without Embiid available, winning just 24 games after being viewed as a potential title contender when the season began. In addition to Embiid’s injury woes, the team got just 41 games out of Paul George and 52 from Tyrese Maxey. Injuries affected the Sixers throughout their roster, and they spent the last few weeks of the season using a makeshift lineup as losses piled up.
Nurse called it “a really unfortunate season,” but there’s renewed optimism related to better health for the team’s star players and the addition of VJ Edgecombe with the third pick in this year’s draft.
“It was almost four, five, six guys every night,” Nurse said of last season’s injuries. “We just never could get any continuity. We used an incredible 40 different players last year. So let’s put that in the rear-view mirror a little bit. Listen, those guys get healthy. They’re great players, and we get some better health this year. We’ll be right back in the mix and that’s what we’re looking to do.”