Cavaliers Sign Tyrese Proctor
Second-round pick Tyrese Proctor has signed with the Cavaliers, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.
It’s a four-year, $8.69MM contract with full guarantees for the first two seasons, a partial guarantee for the third and a team option in the final year, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Proctor was a third-team All-ACC selection this year at Duke, where he averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 38 games. The native of New South Wales is a product of the NBA Global Academy, which he attended in 2021, and a member of the Australian national team.
Proctor, who was selected at No. 49, is Cleveland’s highest draft pick this season. Having him fill a standard roster spot on a rookie contract rather than giving him a two-way deal will provide financial benefits for a Cavs team that is hovering near the second apron.
Thunder’s Jalen Williams Undergoes Wrist Surgery
July 1: Williams underwent surgery to address a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, the Thunder confirmed in a press release on Tuesday. According to the team, he’ll be reevaluated in about 12 weeks. That would be roughly a week before training camp begins.
June 30: Thunder guard Jalen Williams will undergo surgery to fix a torn ligament in his right wrist, according to Rylan Stiles of the Locked on Thunder podcast (Twitter links).
General manager Sam Presti made the announcement today, revealing that Williams played two months with the injury. Presti added that the surgery was expected once the playoffs ended and said it’s impressive that Williams “kept moving along with no excuses and obviously played his best basketball down the stretch of the season.”
He added that Williams should be ready when next season tips off.
Williams made his first All-Star appearance this year and turned in the best season of his career, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 69 games. He was a third-team All-NBA selection and a second team All-Defensive honoree.
He was also one of the stars of Oklahoma City’s championship run, contributing a 40-point outburst in a Game 5 win over Indiana in the NBA Finals and averaging 23.6 PPG for the series.
Williams will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer that could cement his long-term future with the Thunder. He’ll make $6.58MM next season.
Raptors, Jakob Poeltl Finalize Extension
July 8: The Raptors and Poeltl have officially finalized their new contract agreement, the team announced in a press release.
“Jakob has developed into one of the league’s top two-way centers and signing him to an extension was a top priority this offseason. As valuable as he is on the floor, we also really appreciate his leadership and experience off-court,” general manager Bobby Webster said in a statement. “Jak shares our goals – he wants to win as much we do, and we’re thrilled he’ll be a Raptor for seasons to come.”
“Toronto has always felt like home for me – I want to be a Raptor for life. Thanks to Bobby and team ownership for believing in me, and to the fans for their amazing support,” Poeltl added in a statement of his own. “We have a young core that’s full of potential and I believe we’re ready to take the next step. I can’t wait to get together back on the Scotiabank Arena court.”
July 1: Veteran big man Jakob Poeltl will sign a contract extension with the Raptors, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). Poeltl will pick up his $19.5MM player option for the 2026/27 season and add three more years to the deal.
According to Charania, the four years beyond ’25/26 will be worth $104MM in total, which means Poeltl is getting $84.5MM in new money on the three newly added seasons. That works out to roughly $28MM per season.
The deal includes a trade kicker, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), who states that Poeltl hopes to play the rest of his career in Toronto. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line adds (via Twitter) that the final year is only partially guaranteed for $5MM, though that there are triggers that could increase that partial guarantee.
Agents Michael Tellem and Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports considered several options for Poeltl, including an extension while declining the option, Charania adds (Twitter link), but the decision to opt in was made to give the Raptors more flexibility over the next two years.
The 29-year-old center put up career-best numbers this season, averaging 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per night, but he was limited to 57 games. Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports states (via Twitter) that Poeltl sat out games late in the season despite being healthy, which he likely wouldn’t have agreed to do unless he knew he had a new contract coming.
Poeltl has been the Raptors’ starting center since being acquired from San Antonio at the 2023 trade deadline. He’s a strong contributor on both ends of the court, shooting 62.7% from the field this season while posting 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
Toronto refused to include Poeltl in recent trade talks with Phoenix involving Kevin Durant. The Suns reportedly asked for Poeltl and received a “firm” no from the Raptors.
The new contract means Poeltl can’t be traded for the next six months, according to cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link).
Sixers Sign VJ Edgecombe, Johni Broome, Hunter Sallis
The Sixers have signed first-round pick VJ Edgecombe and second-rounder Johni Broome, the team announced in a press release.
Edgecombe was the third overall selection after a spectacular season at Baylor, where he was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and earned second-team all-conference honors. He’s an explosive athlete with the potential to excel for Philadelphia at both ends of the court.
All first-round picks are eligible to receive up to 120% of the NBA’s rookie scale salary. If he gets the full amount, Edgecombe will make $11.1MM in his first season and $50.4MM over the four years of the contract.
Broome was SEC Player of the Year at Auburn and a finalist for the Wooden Award, which honors the top player in college basketball. He received a four-year deal with the first two seasons guaranteed and a team option on the final year, according to Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). Broome was signed using the second-round exception.
The Sixers also signed Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract. The 22-year-old guard ranked fifth in the ACC in scoring this season at Wake Forest.
Trail Blazers Announce Signings Of Hansen Yang, Caleb Love
The Trail Blazers have signed first-round pick Hansen Yang to a rookie scale contract and undrafted free agent Caleb Love to a two-way deal, the team announced in a pair of press releases.
Yang, 20, is a 7’1″ center who starred with the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association. He was selected as CBA Rising Star of the Year the past two seasons and Defensive Player of the Year in 2023/24. He has also been a CBA All-Star in both his years with Qingdao.
Like all first-round picks, Yang is eligible for up to 120% of the NBA’s rookie scale salary. Assuming he gets the full amount, he’ll make $4.4MM in his first season and $21.4MM over the four years of his contract.
Love played at Arizona, where he was named Pac 12 Player of the Year in 2024 and earned a spot on the All-Big 12 team this season. Love played three years at North Carolina before transferring, and the Blazers note that he’s the 13th player in NCAA history to reach 1,000 points with two schools.
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 7/1/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included the Lakers’ remaining options at center, the Celtics’ dwindling roster, Damian Lillard‘s chances of playing in 2025/26, the Nuggets’ flurry of moves and more!
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included the Lakers' remaining options at center, the Celtics' dwindling roster, Damian Lillard's chances of playing in 2025/26, the Nuggets' flurry of moves and more!
Click here to access the chat.
Joe Ingles Re-Signs With Timberwolves
July 7: Ingles’ new deal with the Bucks is official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
June 30: Joe Ingles will return to the Timberwolves on a one-year, $3.6MM contract, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The deal was confirmed by agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports.
It will be the 12th NBA season for Ingles, who saw limited playing time during his first year in Minnesota but was an inspirational figure in the locker room. The contract will be a veteran’s minimum deal and is projected to count for roughly $2.3MM against the cap.
Ingles, who’ll turn 38 in October, came to Minnesota as a free agent last summer. He only appeared in 19 games, averaging 0.8 points and 0.6 rebounds in 6.0 minutes per night. His lone start of the season was a heartwarming story, as coach Chris Finch inserted him into the starting lineup for a game in March because Ingles’ eight-year-old autistic son was able to attend.
Ingles, who has also been a member of the Australian national team since 2008, made his NBA debut with Utah in 2014 after nearly a decade of playing overseas. He spent eight seasons with the Jazz before moving on to Milwaukee in 2022 and Orlando in 2023.
Lakers Expect To Lose Finney-Smith, Add Free Agent Center
The Lakers are preparing to lose free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has received strong interest from the Rockets, but his departure will open up a salary slot in their pursuit of a center, sources tell Dan Woike of The Athletic.
The Bucks‘ Brook Lopez and the Hawks‘ Clint Capela are among their targets, according to Woike, along with Deandre Ayton, who reached a buyout agreement with the Trail Blazers on Sunday. L.A. will have the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception available as it goes shopping for a big man.
Woike hears that the Lakers want to preserve their future cap space in hopes of landing another star to pair with Luka Doncic, possibly next summer, so any deal with a center might be short term.
Lopez played for the Lakers during the 2017/18 season and has frequently been mentioned as a possibility to return. The 37-year-old is likely the best outside shooter on the market, connecting at 37.3% this season while averaging 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 80 games.
Capela, 31, would bring more of a shot-blocking presence. He has been one of the league’s top rebounders, especially on the offensive glass, since coming to Atlanta in 2020, but his numbers were down across the board this season as his playing time declined to 21.4 minutes per night.
Ayton missed more than half the season due to a calf strain, but he’s only 26 and has put up good numbers when healthy throughout his career. The Lakers wouldn’t be able to reach a deal with Ayton until he completes the waiver process.
A source tells Woike that L.A. isn’t making calls to determine Austin Reaves‘ trade value after he turned down a four-year, $89MM extension offer. The Lakers still consider Reaves to be part of the future, per Woike, and expect to sign him to a larger deal when he becomes eligible.
As for Finney-Smith, Marc Stein – who previously identified the Rockets as a leading suitor for the veteran forward – reiterates (via Twitter) that the team is believed to readying a four-year contract offer for him. That offer is expected to be worth a significant portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Scotto’s Latest: Alexander-Walker, Richards, Capela, Kennard, Shamet
Echoing multiple reports, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms that the Hawks and Pistons are considered to be the front-runners for Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but he lists other contenders as well. League sources tell Scotto that the Clippers and Raptors remain in pursuit of Alexander-Walker along with other teams. He adds that the Magic were also interested before trading for Desmond Bane.
Toronto may be a surprise considering its position near the bottom of the standings this year, but the Raptors are reportedly determined to make a quick turnaround. Scotto notes that Alexander-Walker is a Toronto native and the franchise has a history of bringing in Canadian players, with four on the roster this season.
Scotto talked with several executives around the league who expect Alexander-Walker to sign for at least the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception. League sources told Scotto they don’t expect him to return to the Wolves after they reached new deals with Naz Reid and Julius Randle.
Scotto shares more rumors as the start of free agency draws near:
- Center Nick Richards appears to be a trade candidate after the Suns drafted Khaman Maluach and agreed to acquire Mark Williams from Charlotte. Richards’ $5MM contract for next season became fully guaranteed on Sunday, and Scotto hears from league sources that the Knicks, Pacers and Lakers are among the teams with interest.
- Clint Capela isn’t expected to return to the Hawks in the wake of the Kristaps Porzingis deal, and Scotto lists the Clippers, Lakers and Spurs as teams to watch for the free agent center.
- Sources tell Scotto that Luke Kennard is likely to move on from the Grizzlies. The 29-year-old guard is one of the league’s top three-point shooters.
- The Knicks would like to keep free agent guard Landry Shamet, but he’s being eyed by several contending teams, Scotto adds.
Rival Teams Surprised By Statement From LeBron James’ Agent
LeBron James‘ decision to remain with the Lakers was expected, but the announcement that accompanied it has raised eyebrows around the league. James confirmed on Sunday that he’s picking up $52.6MM option to play a record-setting 23rd NBA season. The news came with a statement from agent Rich Paul indicating that James will be monitoring the team’s offseason moves to determine if it can be a title contender.
On this morning’s Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Paul gave advance notice about the statement to the Lakers and to Luka Doncic and his representatives. However, the rest of the league was caught off guard by what could be a veiled threat that James will ask for a trade if he’s not confident in the team’s direction.
“When this statement came out, I began to call teams,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “And I don’t want to get into the who and what and who I talked to, but let’s just say I identified the handful of teams that I could see LeBron trying to be traded to. I’m not going to talk about which teams I talked to, but I did not find a team who was prepared for this. In other words, all of them that I talked to, I didn’t talk to 29 teams, I talked to a handful of teams and they were all caught flat-footed by this.”
Windhorst cites the Cavaliers as an example. There’s been speculation for years that James might want to finish his career close to home and return to the franchise that he led to its only NBA title in 2016. However, Cleveland agreed to trade for Lonzo Ball on Saturday and reached a new four-year contract with Sam Merrill. As Windhorst points out, those moves don’t indicate that the Cavs have any plans to bring back James.
The mechanics of a James deal would be complex due to his no-trade clause and his salary, even in the offseason when teams have more financial flexibility. Windhorst doesn’t believe the uproar over Paul’s statement will ultimately lead to a trade.
“There’s a few players in the league you can trade LeBron for in a one-on-one scenario,” he adds, “and I’ve talked to some of those agents and they in some cases talked to the teams of their players’ teams and I’ve found nothing indicating there was anything afoot here. In terms of a transaction, in terms of a trade.”
At age 40, James doesn’t have the influence that he once did, so the Lakers responded to Sunday’s declaration with the “equivalent of a shrug emoji,” according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Even if it signifies that this will be James’ final season in L.A. — whether he retires or not — Amick believes the organization is more focused on keeping Luka Doncic happy.
Amick adds that Doncic is expected to sign a long-term extension when he becomes eligible on August 2, whereas the Lakers seem warier about continuing to a commit a max-level salary to James beyond the coming season.
Team sources tell Amick that James and the front office didn’t discuss any deals that would have locked him up beyond 2025/26. He adds that LeBron and his representatives made it clear months ago that he wouldn’t accept a discount just to stay in L.A.
Because James signed his current contract in July 2024, he won’t become extension-eligible before he reaches free agency in 2026.
Amick states that the Lakers need to be focused on their future, which means building the team around Doncic. Amick believes L.A. is monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo to see if he eventually asks the Bucks for a trade and notes that Nuggets executive Josh Kroenke recently considered the possibility that he might one day have to part with Nikola Jokic, though Kroenke was referencing a hypothetical “nightmare scenario.”
Austin Reaves, who recently declined a four-year, $89MM extension offer in hopes of landing a larger contract next year, appears to be another key part of the Lakers’ future, so the team will have to prepare to give him a significant raise starting next season, Amick notes.