Southeast Notes: McCollum, Reneau, Dybantsa, AD, LeBron
After they finished last season by winning 20 of their final 26 games, CJ McCollum is eager to see what the Hawks can accomplish in 2026/27, writes Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription required). McCollum played an important role in that late-season success, averaging 18.7 points and 4.1 assists in 41 games after being acquired from Washington in January. He expects the team to be even better after having time to build chemistry.
“I’m just excited to be able to have a full training camp,” he said. “Like I was traded in the middle of the season, so I’m excited about that. Excited about the growth and the potential that a lot of the young guys have, and the experiences that we were able to have this last season competing for a playoff spot, making the playoffs, and then playing against a really good team.”
Atlanta met New York in the first round and took a 2-1 series lead before the Knicks launched a historic 13-game winning streak on their way to the NBA title. McCollum believes the Hawks will eventually benefit from facing such a powerful playoff opponent.
“It teaches you how to be better and make moments,” he said. “It teaches you how to execute. Also teaches you how to prepare. So I’m really just excited about the opportunity to have some more growth moments together as a team.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Malik Reneau scored 19 points Saturday in 18 minutes off the bench to help the Magic defeat Boston and finish with a 4-1 record in the Las Vegas Summer League, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (subscription required). The 6’9″ forward, who agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Orlando following last month’s draft, was one of several players to see increased minutes as the Magic rested four rotation members. “I liked our aggressiveness,” Reneau said. “The way we came out on that defensive end, we got some stops and (were) able to run out and get some easy baskets in transition.”
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis calls AJ Dybantsa a “next-generation prototype,” and his arrival has created a level of optimism in Washington that hasn’t been felt for a long time, observes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Teaming Dybantsa with Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who were acquired in trades last season, along with a solid core of young prospects, might make the Wizards a factor in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Young said the team will be holding workouts in Los Angeles this summer, and Dybantsa is eager to learn from his veteran teammates. “When you’re playing with a guy of that stature, I’ll definitely get easy shots from him if nothing else,” Dybantsa said of Young. “[AD] was the No. 1 pick many years back, so he’s been through a lot of the stuff that I’ve got to go through.”
- The Wizards don’t fit the profile of what LeBron James was looking for in free agency, but Davis revealed that he had “conversations” with his former Lakers teammate about coming to Washington (Twitter video link from Chase Coburn).
LeBron James Rumors: Cavs, Heat, Sixers, Warriors, Lakers Exit
The teams pursuing star forward LeBron James have “reported mostly one-way communication,” according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who suggests that those clubs haven’t had much back-and-forth dialogue or feedback on their pitches during the first week of free agency.
There’s a “vibe” pointing toward James reuniting with the Cavaliers, Windhorst writes, noting that those rumblings have been buttressed by the fact that the four-time MVP celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his Cleveland championship earlier this offseason by vacationing with his 2016 Cavs teammates and has been spending more time in Akron this summer. However, Windhorst hears from sources that the Sixers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Warriors still believe they’re in the running.
Those five teams and Miami were cited earlier this week as the most serious suitors in the LeBron sweepstakes, and while Windhorst’s report doesn’t mention the Heat specifically, ESPN’s Shams Charania told Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday that they’re still firmly in the mix too.
“When I talk to teams around the league, when I do my research, the teams that continue to come up are Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia after they got Jaylen Brown,” Charania said (Twitter video link).
A potential reunion with the Cavaliers or Heat has been a popular topic of speculation since even before James informed the Lakers he wouldn’t be returning to the team for the 2026/27 season, but the 76ers have only emerged as a serious suitor since acquiring Brown from Boston in exchange for Paul George and draft assets.
“Philadelphia was not in the picture (before the Brown trade),” Charania continued. “… When the Sixers got Jaylen Brown, I did some research and I found out within 24 hours, he’s taking their pitch really seriously. I look at it, when I talk to teams now, as kind of a hierarchy of Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia, and then I think there’s some teams on the periphery.”
Here’s more on James:
- Some league sources believe that the Warriors only have a real chance to land James if they’re able to trade for Wizards big man – and LeBron’s former Lakers teammate – Anthony Davis, writes Anthony Slater of ESPN. However, team sources tell Slater that Golden State hasn’t been directly told that and hasn’t been engaging with Washington about a potential Davis deal. The Wizards reportedly aren’t interested in moving him.
- In an in-depth story for ESPN.com, Ramona Shelburne takes a closer look at how the relationship between James and the Lakers ended. According to Shelburne, the Lakers contacted agent Rich Paul about a week before free agency began to try to set up a video meeting with LeBron and were told that he wasn’t available. Paul later told ESPN that his client had already decided he wouldn’t be staying in Los Angeles, so that call wasn’t necessary.
- The Lakers‘ initial plan in free agency, per Shelburne, was to pursue a top restricted free agent center like Walker Kessler or Jalen Duren, with unrestricted free agent Mitchell Robinson as a fall-back option. The team would’ve needed a significant chunk of cap room to land Kessler or Duren and likely would’ve offered James what was left, Shelburne explains. With James exiting, Los Angeles instead used its remaining space after landing Kessler to sign role players Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who the front office believes will be good fits alongside Luka Doncic.
Stein/Fischer’s Latest: Kuminga, Lakers, Knicks, Diabate, Ayton, Temple
The Lakers are focusing on free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga as they search for another wing and one more big man to round out their roster, sources tell Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (subscription required).
However, the slow pace of LeBron James‘ free agent decision may be holding up the market on Kuminga. Stein and Fischer report that the Cavaliers are interested in Kuminga as well, and head coach Kenny Atkinson has experience with him from his time as a Golden State assistant. However, the Cavs don’t want to commit to anything with Kuminga before finding out if they’ll be landing James.
Stein and Fischer hear that the Hawks may still try to re-sign Kuminga after declining their $24.3MM team option on Monday, and they could be open to a sign-and-trade deal as well. The Bucks may also make a play for Kuminga, according to the authors, who add that L.A.’s pursuit of Kuminga could mean Rui Hachimura plays elsewhere. There’s a “growing expectation” Hachimura won’t be back with the Lakers, per Stein and Fischer.
After agreeing to trade Deandre Ayton to Washington on Friday, the Lakers lost a potential replacement later in the day when Andre Drummond committed to New York. Former New Orleans center Kevon Looney remains an option for L.A., according to Stein and Fischer, along with Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas, whose $10MM salary for next season only carries a $2MM guarantee through July 8.
Stein and Fischer share more inside information from around the league:
- The Knicks also had interest in Looney before reaching the deal with Drummond and were monitoring Hornets big man Moussa Diabate as well, sources tell Stein and Fischer. Diabate hasn’t been mentioned in trade rumors, but Charlotte has made changes to its front line recently by dealing for Naz Reid and drafting Hannes Steinbach. Diabate has an expiring $2.5MM contract that would have been a perfect fit for New York’s quest to remain below the second apron.
- The Wizards‘ acquisition of Ayton shouldn’t be viewed of a sign of an upcoming Anthony Davis trade, according to Stein and Fischer. Sources tell them that Washington plans to expand its use of double-big lineups that team Ayton with Davis as well as with Alex Sarr.
- Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri talked to Garrett Temple about a front office position before Dusty May convinced him to join the coaching staff, Stein and Fischer hear. They report that Josh Broghamer and Phil Handy are expected to be retained from former head coach Jason Kidd‘s staff.
Wizards Not Interested In Dealing Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis‘ name has popped up in trade rumors, especially involving Golden State, but the Wizards are apparently not interested in dealing the veteran big man.
According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape and ESPN (Twitter link), Washington is not listening to trade offers for him. Another NBA team executive told Spears that Wizards general manager Will Dawkins is a huge fan of Davis.
The Warriors‘ interest in Davis was reported over the weekend but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst indicated on Tuesday there was no progress in talks between the clubs, adding, “I do not see traction from the Wizards to want to do that.”
Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger stated earlier this month that Davis wanted to be part of Washington’s building process.
“My conversations with AD are delightful. He’s a pro’s pro. He understands who he is in this league, he understands the direction of this league, he understands what we’re trying to do organizationally,” Winger said. “He’s communicated to me a strong interest in being part of what we’re building… He, like the rest of us, wants to be on a really good basketball team and compete for something big. That’s our aim, that’s what we want to do, and I’m delighted that Anthony’s here for that.”
Davis has yet to make his Washington debut. After acquiring him from Dallas in February, the Wizards decided to sit out the 10-time All-Star so that he could fully recover from groin and hand injuries. Davis, assuming he stays put, will head up a frontcourt that includes center Alex Sarr and top overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
Warriors Focused On Signing LeBron James; Trade For Anthony Davis Seems Unlikely
It appears the Warriors are focused just on signing LeBron James in free agency rather than working out a trade for Anthony Davis as well, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Tuesday morning on Get Up (YouTube link). Windhorst indicated there has been no progress in talks with the Wizards on a deal that would bring a fourth star to Golden State.
“Right now, I’m taking the Anthony Davis thing off the front burner,” Windhorst said. “I do not have data that says that’s likely to happen. Now, my information could change, but I do not see traction from the Wizards to want to do that. The Warriors told Jimmy Butler they’re not trading him. I think the focus right now is: Can they get LeBron James away from the Los Angeles Lakers? That’s something they’re going to try to get done today. Whether or not they can pull it off, let’s wait and watch.”
Speculation that the Warriors might try to form a veteran super-team erupted Monday after Draymond Green‘s surprise decision to decline his $27.7MM player option for the upcoming season. That gave the team more financial flexibility to fit in James with its $15MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception and possibly trade for Davis as well.
However, Monday’s agreement to re-sign Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40MM deal complicates the situation somewhat. Golden State now has to unload some salary to have access to the full NTMLE, with Moses Moody viewed as the most likely candidate. Otherwise, the Warriors will likely be limited to the $6.1MM taxpayer MLE, which is much less enticing for James.
Appearing with Windhorst on Get Up, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said the reports of Golden State’s interest in Davis seemed dubious from the start.
“I understand maximizing your chances to compete during the twilight of Steph Curry, but a trade for AD, that’s going beyond the twilight,” MacMahon said. “Because, look, number one you’re probably giving up some kind of draft compensation … but more than anything, why does AD want to be traded? Because the Wizards are saying, hey, wait, we don’t want to give you an extension right now. Anthony Davis is owed $120MM over the next two years and wants a max or near-max extension off of that. To be committed to max money to AD when Steph Curry is riding off into the sunset would make zero sense for the Golden State Warriors.”
Davis is owed $58.5MM in 2026/27 and holds a $62.8MM player option for the following season. He was limited to 20 games this year and didn’t play at all after being traded to Washington in February.
Warriors Rumors: LeBron, Davis, Butler, Draymond
While little is known about LeBron James‘ plans for free agency, the Warriors are “far and away” the Lakers superstar’s “most interested external suitor,” according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
There has been some reporting indicating that Golden State may try to trade for Wizards big man Anthony Davis to further enhance their chances of signing James using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but the team hasn’t been acting as though the former championship teammates are some sort of package deal, sources tell The Stein Line.
According to Stein and Fischer, the Warriors continue to signal behind the scenes that they’re reluctant to trade Jimmy Butler, who would have to be sent out to acquire Davis for salary-matching purposes. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and head coach Steve Kerr both have strong relationships with Butler, the authors observe.
“I don’t want to get into a constant cycle of responding to this stuff,” Butler’s agent Bernie Lee told ESPN on Monday. “But I will say the Warriors — from ownership to the front office to the coaches and medical staff — have been resolute in their plan to support Jimmy through his rehab. … That remains true today as I respond to you.”
Draymond Green declining his $27.7MM player option added fuel to the Davis chatter. The former Defensive Player of the Year won’t be going anywhere: Stein and Fischer report that Green is expected to re-sign with the Warriors on a new multiyear contract once the team figures out its other roster moves.
Trade Rumors: Kawhi, Brown, Hield, AD, Murphy, More
Rumors about the possibility of the Clippers and Raptors completing a Kawhi Leonard trade continued to percolate throughout the day on Monday, with ESPN’s Shams Charania stating on SportsCenter (Twitter video link) that the two teams seem motivated to make a deal. Charania suggested during that TV appearance that Leonard’s time with the Clippers may be nearing its end, while NBA insider Chris Haynes stated in a spot on NBA TV (Twitter video link) that he thinks it will be hard for L.A. to “put the toothpaste back in the tube” and bring Kawhi back for next season.
While it sounds like Leonard is interested in returning to a Raptors team willing to give him the sort of lucrative new extension that the Clippers haven’t put on the table, Haynes and Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints both say L.A. hasn’t been enamored by Toronto’s offer so far. According to Azarly, the Raptors are willing to put Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a first-round pick on the table, but the Clippers view that proposal as “one-sided,” sources tell ClutchPoints.
Still, the Raptors want to keep their most promising young talent, which means All-Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles is off limits, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. Grange notes (via Twitter) that Toronto also wants to hang onto young wing Ja’Kobe Walter.
According to Azarly, if the Clippers do move Leonard, team owner Steve Ballmer would want to remain competitive and ideally would like to replace the two-time Finals MVP with another star. Celtics wing Jaylen Brown is at the top of that list, league sources tell ClutchPoints, but it’s unclear whether there’s a path for L.A. to acquire Brown while sending out Leonard.
For his part, Brown – whose name continues to come up frequently in trade rumors – has “grown frustrated” with the organization’s approach this offseason after he led the Celtics to a 56-win season without Jayson Tatum available for much of the year, reports Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (subscription required). Still, one league source who spoke to Himmelsbach said Brown could end up remaining in Boston, even if it requires some “uncomfortable conversations.”
Those conversations may be necessary if the Celtics can’t find an offer they like for Brown. And that’s a very real possibility, ESPN’s Charania, Brian Windhorst, and Bobby Marks said on Monday’s episode of NBA Today (YouTube link).
As RealGM relays, Marks described Brown’s market as “lukewarm” and speculated that he’ll remain a Celtic, while Windhorst agreed that Brad Stevens and his front office “might not be able to get what they want for Jaylen.” Charania, who has reported that the Celtics have sought four first-round picks for Brown from some potential trade partners, added that he hasn’t been able to find a team willing to pay that sort of price.
We have more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Although the Hawks guaranteed Buddy Hield‘s salary for 2026/27 on Sunday, that doesn’t mean the veteran sharpshooter will still be on the roster by opening night. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link) hears Atlanta is discussing a number of trade scenarios that could involve Hield.
- Within his report on Kristaps Porzingis‘ new deal with Golden State, Anthony Slater of ESPN says there has been “no tangible movement” toward an Anthony Davis trade between the Warriors and Wizards.
- Multiple teams have been willing to offer two first-round picks for Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III, but New Orleans’ front office is seeking at least three and no suitors have been willing to meet that price, reports Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports. Within the same story, O’Connor says one reason the Heat are shopping Nikola Jovic is to create the cap flexibility necessary to try to re-sign Norman Powell.
- In a general look at the Nuggets‘ offseason, Sam Amick of The Athletic adds the Mavericks to the list of teams with interest in Denver forward Cameron Johnson. Johnson seems to be the Nuggets’ most likely trade candidate, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, who says Denver’s front office has been engaging in trade talks with multiple teams about the 30-year-old.
More On Warriors’ Interest In Anthony Davis, LeBron James
Word of the Warriors‘ apparent interest in Wizards big man Anthony Davis first surfaced on Sunday night and was advanced on Monday when Draymond Green declined his $27.7MM player option for 2026/27, signaling that the team is looking into finding a way to acquire both Davis and star forward LeBron James.
According to Anthony Slater of ESPN, Warriors team sources have said for weeks that they expect James to remain in Los Angeles, but with LeBron having not yet engaged seriously in contract discussions with the Lakers, Golden State believes that door may have opened a crack.
Whether or not their pursuit of Davis goes anywhere, the Warriors have the flexibility to offer James the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is expected to start at just above $15MM. However, according to Slater’s sources, the Warriors believe the prospect of acquiring Davis, James’ former Lakers teammate and good friend, would significantly strengthen their pitch to the four-time MVP.
As RealGM relays, ESPN’s Shams Charania suggested during an appearance on SportsCenter that Davis and James might have to be a “package deal” to end up in Golden State — in other words, the Warriors may be unlikely to acquire one if they can’t get the other.
There’s also said to be some league-wide skepticism about whether the Warriors actually have a serious chance to land Davis and James to team up with Green and Stephen Curry or whether Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul – who represents all three players – is just looking to get all of them paid by their current teams.
“The people in the league that I’m talking to today are giving me the side-eye, and they’re going, ‘This is going to end up with Draymond Green getting a new contract in Golden State, LeBron getting a new contract in Los Angeles, and Anthony Davis getting a new contract in Washington,'” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Rich Eisen Show (Twitter video link). “… So, I’m not saying I know, but part of this could be creating leverage for AD and LeBron in both Washington and L.A. And then everybody gets paid on a contract. Or they could all end up in Golden State. I’m not sure which it’s going to be.”
Here’s more on AD and LeBron:
- With the Warriors emerging as a real threat for James, the Lakers are expected to engage with the 41-year-old forward in conversations about his future sooner rather than later, says NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
- According to RealGM, Windhorst said during Monday’s episode of Get Up on ESPN that Paul met with the Wizards on Sunday to discuss Davis’ future. “I’m sure that Anthony Davis could be given a contract that would make him very happy to be in Washington,” Windhorst said, pointing out the Wizards have already committed to Trae Young on a four-year, $212MM contract. “Maybe the Wizards are prepared to do that. The Wizards want to win immediately.”
- John Hollinger of The Athletic examines the cap machinations that would be necessary for the Warriors to acquire Davis and James, suggesting that there may not be a path for Kristaps Porzingis to re-sign with Golden State if the team were to pull off landing the former Lakers stars.
- If Davis were traded to Golden State, Jimmy Butler would have to be the outgoing piece for salary-matching purposes. Asked about that possibility, Butler’s agent Bernie Lee told Slater (Twitter link) that the Warriors have maintained they’re not looking to trade his client. “I don’t want to get into a constant cycle of responding to this stuff,” Lee said. “But I will say the Warriors — from ownership to the front office to the coaches and medical staff — have been resolute in their plan to support Jimmy through his rehab. … That remains true today as I respond to you.”
Draymond Green Declining $27.7MM Player Option
Warriors forward Draymond Green will turn down his $27.7MM player option for next season, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link), who states that the decision will give Golden State added flexibility to pursue Lakers forward LeBron James in free agency and Wizards big man Anthony Davis on the trade market.
Green, James, and Davis are all represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports.
The Warriors were about $20MM below the first apron before Green’s decision, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). He adds that taking Green’s salary off the books, at least temporarily, should give the team access to the full $15MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
The Warriors plan to use the MLE to target James and are confident about their chances of landing both veteran stars, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link). Green appears to be “very open” to re-signing at a discount to make that happen, Siegel adds.
For the moment, Golden State is about $43.7MM below the luxury tax and $51.7MM away from the first apron, per Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link), whose figures include a reported new deal for Al Horford and the salary of first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg. Smith states that the Warriors will have the flexibility to add salaries via trade and projects the first apron to be the team’s eventual hard cap.
Green, 36, has spent his entire career with Golden State since being selected with the 35th pick in the 2012 draft. He’s a former Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time member of the All-Defensive Team. He played a huge role in the Warriors’ four championships and continues to be productive in the late stage of his career. In 68 games this season, he averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 27.5 minutes per night.
Green has expressed a desire to finish his career with Golden State alongside Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr. It appears there’s a chance he’ll get to do that with a revived Warriors team that features some of the biggest names in recent NBA history.
Warriors Eyeing Anthony Davis?
The Warriors’ interest in adding LeBron James in free agency is the league’s worst-kept secret, but it would appear their ambitions don’t end with landing the 41-year-old four-time MVP.
Golden State is also pursuing Wizards big man Anthony Davis in the hopes of reuniting the championship-winning duo in the Bay Area, Kevin O’Connor reports for Yahoo Sports.
Such a deal would require the inclusion of the injured Jimmy Butler for salary-matching purposes, and presumably some form of draft compensation as well.
The Wizards have previously expressed their desire to retain Davis, whom they landed at the trade deadline, as they look to work their way back up the Eastern Conference standings. Swapping the star big man for Butler, who is not expected to return to the court until the middle of winter as he recovers from ACL surgery, could be seen as taking a step back in the short term, despite Davis’ own injury concerns.
A third team could be included in the deal to provide a landing spot for Butler and more win-now pieces for the Wizards, O’Connor speculates. Butler has said that his preference would be to play out the rest of his career in Golden State, as he has strong respect for the organization and star Stephen Curry.
Davis will become extension-eligible in August. It’s unclear how willing the Warriors would be to consider a long-term extension for the talented but oft-injured big man, given Curry’s age.
Both James and Davis are expected to have their share of suitors on the free agency and trade markets, respectively, this summer, which could complicate the Warriors’ efforts to put together a star-studded, veteran super-team around franchise cornerstones Draymond Green and Curry.