Lakers Notes: Bronny, Kessler, Sexton, Reaves
LeBron James won’t return to the Lakers in 2026/27, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Bronny James‘ time with the organization is coming to an end too, writes Dan Woike of The Athletic. While there has been widespread speculation that Bronny will end up being traded to LeBron’s new team, league sources tell Woike that it’s not accurate to assume father and son are linked going forward.
That doesn’t mean Bronny is a lock to finish out his contract with the Lakers, Woike acknowledges, but he notes that the 21-year-old is respected within the organization and is “well-liked” in the locker room. The team guaranteed his salary for 2026/27 earlier this summer.
The younger James took a step forward in 2025/26, increasing his shooting line from .313/.281/.786 as a rookie to .409/.386/.857 in his second season while appearing in 42 NBA games. He also performed well in 14 regular season outings with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, averaging 15.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per game on .560/.456/.786 shooting and cutting back on his turnovers.
Still, minutes could be hard to come by in a crowded Lakers backcourt, with Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy, and rookie Cameron Carr all in the mix along with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
We have more on the Lakers:
- Speaking to reporters on Monday for the first time since signing a four-year contract worth nearly $130MM, new Lakers center Walker Kessler said he’s eager to prove that the organization was justified in making such a significant commitment to him, writes ESPN’s Ben Golliver. In addition to signing him to a deal worth more than $32MM per year, Los Angeles gave up two first-round picks and two first-round swaps to land Kessler. “With what (the Lakers) have invested, they’re showing that belief, in a monetary value. Not just with money, but in (draft) assets,” he said. “If I know they have that belief in me, I’m going to run through a brick wall for them. That’s how I’ve been wired my whole life.” Kessler, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last fall, said that shoulder feels “better than it’s ever felt in my life” and added that he expects playing alongside Doncic to be “a lot of fun.”
- While Sexton is known primarily as a scorer, he said on Monday that he envisions himself making an impact on the defensive end with his new team, pointing to a pair of former Lakers guards as inspiration, per Golliver. “I watched a lot of the playoffs,” Sexton said. “I watched a lot of (Marcus Smart) over the years. I watched a little bit of like Avery Bradley as well. How he was able to change the pace on defense. That was a while ago, but just watching him and his competitive nature, that’s my guy. … I feel like those two guys have been able to really lock in. I think I can bring that to this team.”
- With James, Smart, Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard, and Rui Hachimura no longer on the roster, Reaves is the only remaining Laker who started games during the 2026 playoffs. Referencing that offseason roster overhaul, the 28-year-old told reporters this week that he’s prepared to take on whatever new responsibilities head coach JJ Redick wants him to, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Everybody knows it’s a completely different team,” Reaves said. “There’s going to be different things asked of different people, and if that’s what JJ and the staff asks of me, I’ll do it to the best of my ability.” The Lakers guard also spoke about his free agency negotiations, suggesting he never seriously considering leaving Los Angeles. “My heart was in L.A. the whole time,” he said.
Lakers, Collin Sexton Finalize Two-Year Deal
July 12: Sexton is officially a Laker, per a team press release (Twitter link via Dan Woike of The Athletic).
July 1: Free agent guard Collin Sexton has agreed to terms with the Lakers on a two-year, $19MM deal, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). The contract includes a player option for the second season, Charania adds (Twitter link).
Los Angeles will bring in Sexton using its room exception, which could push the final value of the deal as high as $19.2MM.
Sexton figures to be another valuable bench weapon for the Lakers, who have revamped their roster within the span of an hour this afternoon by working out a trade with Utah for Walker Kessler and reaching agreements with former Philadelphia guard Quentin Grimes and ex-Toronto center Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Los Angeles now has a much younger collection of talent to replace LeBron James, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard, who are all leaving in free agency.
The 27-year-old Sexton was a valuable contributor with Charlotte this season before being traded to Chicago at the deadline. He put up even better numbers with the Bulls, averaging 17.5 PPG in 26 games while shooting 48.2% from the field and 41% from three-point range. Sexton is a 39% shooter for his career from long distance, which will be a welcome addition in L.A.
The Lakers have “exhausted all their spending power” with today’s flurry of moves, according to Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Twitter link), with Kessler, Grimes, and Mamukelashvili expected to use up all of the team’s cap room while Sexton occupies the room exception. However, L.A. still has the option to increase its payroll through trades.
Pacific Notes: Suns, B. Jackson, Lakers, Clippers
The Suns officially announced their new deals for center Mark Williams and guards Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin on Tuesday, with general manager Brian Gregory calling it a “great day for our organization,” describing the trio as “instrumental in our success last year,” per Logan Stanley of The Arizona Republic.
As Stanley details, while the Suns are sending Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to Charlotte in a trade for Miles Bridges, the front office otherwise made continuity a priority this offseason after taking a step forward by winning 45 games in 2025/26. On Tuesday, Gregory referred to continuity and internal development as “a big key for us,” while Goodwin expressed optimism that bringing back most of last season’s rotation will pay off in 2026/27.
“It’s going to be huge,” Goodwin said. “We had the chemistry on the court, off the court. We were all brothers, no arguments, everybody’s locked in. So it’s gonna be real fun.”
We have more from around the Pacific:
- Bobby Jackson, who joined former teammate Doug Christie‘s staff to run the Kings’ defense last season, won’t be returning in 2026/27 as an assistant coach, according to Sean Cunningham of KCRA in Sacramento (Twitter link), who reports that Jackson and the Kings have parted ways.
- While the Lakers did much of their offseason work last Wednesday when they reached agreements to add Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton, they still have at least one opening on their projected 15-man roster, and that number could increase if they’re not done dealing. A team source tells Dave McMenamin of ESPN that the Lakers view those back-end roster spots as “critical” for next season’s roster.
- Kawhi Leonard‘s exit from Los Angeles and return to Toronto has been the main talking point of the trade agreement between the Clippers and Raptors, but Law Murray of The Athletic considers what two-time All-Star Brandon Ingram and former lottery pick Gradey Dick will bring to L.A. while also considering what roster holes the Clippers still need to fill. The Clippers fortified their frontcourt on Monday by signing Rui Hachimura to replace departing power forward John Collins, though Murray questions whether the team still may explore upgrades at center, with Brook Lopez, Isaiah Jackson, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser currently on track to handle the five.
Free Agent Rumors: Kessler, Powell, Blazers, Simmons, Suns, Payton
Center Walker Kessler will meet with multiple teams when free agency opens on Tuesday evening, reports Tony Jones of The Athletic (via Twitter). According to Jones, the meetings will be held at CAA headquarters in Los Angeles.
Jones reported earlier on Monday that the Jazz formally issued Kessler a qualifying offer, making the 7’2″ big man a restricted free agent. Utah now has the right of first refusal on Kessler, giving the team the ability to match any offer sheet he might receive from a rival team.
Kessler and the Jazz have engaged in contract negotiations during Utah’s exclusive negotiating period. The team reportedly put a five-year offer worth approximately $140MM on the table, but the center and his camp were said to be unhappy about the way those talks were going.
Although “several” teams are expected to express interest in Kessler, the belief around the NBA is that he’ll eventually return to the Jazz, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Siegel also hears Utah is in the market for a veteran guard to add to their young backcourt.
Here are some more rumors on ahead of tomorrow’s free agency, with several players already agreeing to return to their respective teams:
- Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Sunday that the Bulls are among the possible suitors for Norman Powell, and Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal has heard the same. Powell isn’t expected to explore sign-and-trade scenarios from the Heat, a source tells Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link). The 33-year-old wing made his first All-Star team in 2025/26, having averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals on .470/.380/.827 shooting in 58 games (29.6 minutes per game).
- In a story that was published shortly before the Trail Blazers agreed to trade for two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reported that Portland was interested in re-signing free agents Robert Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley “if the deal makes sense.” There’s mutual interest in a reunion with Williams, according to Freeman. This is just my speculation, but pending additional roster moves, Wesley seems less likely to return after adding Morant to a crowded backcourt.
- Speaking to Clay Skipper of Men’s Health, former NBA star Ben Simmons says he’s considering making a comeback attempt after he was out of the league this past season, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com relays. “I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my ass on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed,” Simmons said. “I don’t have a plan on where.”
- The Suns are looking for a guard with the taxpayer mid-level exception, per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link). Of the six players Gambadoro listed, two — Kevin Huerter (Pistons) and Landry Shamet (Knicks) have reportedly agreed to re-sign with their respective teams. The other four guards are Luke Kennard, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and De’Anthony Melton.
- According to Siegel, Warriors guard Gary Payton II is interested in re-signing with Golden State on a minimum-salary contract.
Stein/Fischer’s Latest: Warriors, Collins, Triano, Harden
The Warriors appear to be on the verge of finalizing a deal to keep free agent big man Kristaps Porzingis in the organization, report Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (subscriber link). Like Trae Young, Al Horford, and others, Porzingis is likely to reach an agreement with his team during the exclusive negotiating window before Tuesday’s official start to free agency.
Golden State is also still expected to pursue Lakers free agent LeBron James, who, as of Friday, reportedly had yet to engage in serious discussions with L.A. on a new deal. Previous reporting had indicated that the Warriors were expecting James to stay with the Lakers, but his plans remain unclear. The Warriors are banking on a pitch that includes the fact that their team would be the closest James could be to his home base in L.A. without going to the Clippers.
Golden State is limited by what they can offer the 22-time All-Star, though. They are expected to have the $15MM mid-level exception available, but the final amount will be determined by what happens with Draymond Green and Porzingis.
The Warriors are also expected to explore other free agent alternatives while they wait to see what James decides to do. Reserve big man Jock Landale, and guards Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton are considered targets, with the latter two reflecting Golden State’s interest in acquiring another scoring ball-handler to insert in the backcourt rotation.
On that note, Kevin Porter Jr. would have likely been a target for them had he not picked up his player option with Milwaukee, Stein and Fischer say.
We have more news from around the NBA, courtesy of The Stein Line:
- The Timberwolves have interest in free agent John Collins as they continue to look for a power forward to replace Julius Randle, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to afford him, Stein and Fischer report. The Magic, Spurs, and Sixers are all expected to pursue Collins, with Stein and Fischer noting that San Antonio and Philadelphia continue to be linked to the top forward options in free agency.
- Mavericks assistant coach Jay Triano is drawing interest from the Trail Blazers to join newly hired Micah Nori‘s coaching staff, the Stein Line reports. Nori worked under Triano when the latter was head coach of the Raptors. Triano is a very experienced coach, having spent over 20 years as an assistant in the NBA, with multiple head coaching stints both in the NBA and with the Canadian national team.
- Besides Porzingis, another free agent expected to come to a pre-Tuesday agreement with his current team is Cavaliers guard James Harden. Stein and Fischer previously reported the expectation that a deal would get done soon, and they now say an agreement could “come to fruition any minute.”
Draft Rumors: Thunder, Boozer, Bulls, Warriors, Lendeborg, Mavs
Two executives who spoke to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints about next month’s draft suggested they could envision the Thunder packaging several assets, including this year’s 12th and 17th overall picks, in order to try to trade into the top four to land Duke forward Cameron Boozer.
However, it seems unlikely that any teams near the top of the draft would be amenable to such a deal for a few reasons. For one, this year’s top four prospects are considered to be in a tier of their own. It’s also probably safe to assume that no teams will be eager to help the defending champion Thunder land another potential franchise cornerstone on a rookie scale deal unless they’re significantly overpaying to do so.
For what it’s worth, the Bulls – who have the No. 4 overall pick – would only have interest in trading that selection if they were moving up, not down, sources tell Siegel.
Even if the Thunder aren’t able to move that high in the draft, there’s an “overwhelming belief” that they won’t simply remain at No. 12 and No. 17 and draft two rookies, Siegel writes. Oklahoma City is expected to be aggressive on the trade market, which could mean trading one or both of those picks either to move up or for future draft assets.
Here are a few more draft-related rumors from Siegel:
- If they hang onto the No. 11 pick, the expectation is that the Warriors will be targeting a prospect who can step in and contribute right away. According to Siegel, Golden State is hoping this offseason to add an “impactful” guard who can play on or off the ball next to Stephen Curry, though that may not happen in the draft — Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton have been mentioned by league sources as the types of veteran free agents the team may be looking at.
- The Warriors (No. 11), Hornets (Nos. 14 and 18), Spurs (No. 20), and Pistons (No. 21) are among the teams with interest in Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg, Siegel reports. With the exception of Golden State, each of those clubs might have to trade up to have a shot at drafting Lendeborg, since he’s widely projected to be a late lottery pick. Multiple sources tell Siegel that Charlotte’s interest in Lendeborg is considered “real” and they’ll explore the possibility of moving up.
- Based on the fact that Masai Ujiri has long prioritized length and athleticism, league sources who have spoken to Siegel have identified Tennessee’s Nate Ament and Baylor’s Cameron Carr as two potential targets to watch for the Mavericks, who control the ninth overall pick.
Bulls Notes: Tanking, Okoro, Miller, Essengue
The Bulls aren’t winning very often, but they still aren’t tanking and that isn’t likely to change, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times writes in a subscriber-only story. Thursday’s loss to the Lakers left Chicago at 27-39, which is the league’s ninth-worst record and only a half-game away from Milwaukee in the lottery race. Coach Billy Donovan said he hasn’t received any directive from executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas to stop playing his best lineups and he doesn’t expect to.
“If we get to a place where we are mathematically out of anything as it relates to postseason and there are guys that are dealing with some ailments or have challenges health-wise, could they say, ‘Hey, let’s get these guys right first’? I don’t know,” Donovan said. “Everything I got from them up to this point in time is to continue to put our best foot forward.”
As Cowley notes, it’s been hard to get a read on the new roster since the trade deadline upheaval because of injuries. Donovan and the front office would like to get a better look at Anfernee Simons and Jaden Ivey before they become free agents this summer, but Simons is sidelined with a wrist fracture and Ivey is dealing with lingering soreness in his left knee. The team announced today that Ivey will practice with its G League affiliate, so he could be nearing a return.
“The Anfernee thing has made it tough to evaluate him, but he does have a large body of work, and so does Collin (Sexton),” Donovan said. “Rob (Dillingham) would be a guy that you can really, really take a look at. The Jaden situation has been unfortunate because he played four games and now he’s out, he’s trying to rehab, but everything I’ve gotten from (the front office) is go out there and help these guys be as competitive and successful as they can be, and put the focus on winning, and I think that’s the same thing as ownership.”
There’s more on the Bulls:
- Isaac Okoro sat out Thursday’s game after being a late scratch Tuesday at Golden State with a knee issue, Cowley adds. “He’s had it before,” Donovan said. “It’s probably going to take a little bit of time to make it calm down. Generally, he starts to feel better each day that goes by. I don’t think it’s a long-term thing or anything like that. He’s just got some inflammation there that they need to calm down.”
- Leonard Miller, who was acquired from Minnesota at the deadline, made his third start Thursday since joining the Bulls and continues to put up impressive numbers. He finished with 15 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes after posting 17 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes on Tuesday. Chicago holds a $2.4MM team option on Miller for next season, and Cowley suggests in a separate story that it might be a good idea to keep him in his current role when Patrick Williams recovers from an ankle injury. “I’m always ready to go out there and compete at a high level,” Miller said. “I think I demonstrated that and that’s what I’m going to continue to demonstrate. Me playing at a high level and having a good game, I’m kind of not surprised because I have that belief in myself, I’m confident, and I feel like the sky is the limit with me.”
- Noa Essengue has been cleared for non-contact basketball activities and is considering playing in Summer League, per K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link). Essengue, the 12th pick in last year’s draft, only appeared in two games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. “It’s been a tough year,” he said. “But that’s a goal in life, to always stay positive. It doesn’t matter what happens, whether you’re playing good or bad, you have an injury or are healthy, you stay positive and keep working. That’s what I’ve done.”
Bulls Notes: Sexton, Ivey, Olbrich, Injuries
The Bulls are giving Collin Sexton a spotlight that he might not have expected when he was traded to the team last month, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times writes in a subscriber-only piece. The veteran guard played 38 minutes on Thursday at Phoenix and responded with 30 points as Chicago posted a surprising road win.
‘‘Definitely very appreciative,’’ Sexton said. ‘‘At the end of the day, I always take one day at a time, one second at a time, one minute at a time. At the end of the day, I always tell myself [to] be where my feet are at and be grounded and focus on the now. Don’t focus too far in the future. I appreciate the team, as well as the organization, giving me the opportunity and trusting me down the stretch with the ball but also to make plays for others. I appreciate that.’’
Holding a nearly $19MM expiring contract on a team with an abundance of guards, Sexton may not be in the Bulls’ plans beyond the rest of this season. And while it’s probably in Chicago’s best long-term interest to lose as much as possible over the next five weeks, Sexton is focused on doing all he can to win games and build a strong relationship with coach Billy Donovan.
‘‘I appreciate Coach,’’ Sexton said. ‘‘He’s been going through a lot [the death of his father and mother-in-law in the last month], and I’ve been praying for him, my family has been praying for him. And for him to come out each and every day with a smile on his face and trying to encourage us … he’s had a lot going on.’’
There’s more on the Bulls:
- Jaden Ivey didn’t travel with the team on its 10-day road trip and is undergoing treatment on his left knee that may determine if he plays again this season, Cowley states in a separate story. “That’s going to be really, really critical,” Donovan said. “He’s made strides and he’s gotten better, but the medical guys want to see some improvement in that strengthening. Two weeks passed a few days ago, now he’s got this third week, and he’s gotten stronger, but to make another jump there are certain things the medical guys are going to want to see and have him cross some thresholds.” Ivey has only appeared in four games since being acquired from Detroit at the deadline, and Cowley notes that the Bulls’ decision-makers would like to see him in action a little more before he becomes a restricted free agent this summer.
- Australian big man Lachlan Olbrich approached his first NBA season without any expectations, Cowley adds. After signing a two-way contract last summer, he has seen limited playing time in 21 games. “I didn’t know what to expect coming into it, obviously, but I feel like I built a really strong foundation,” Olbrich said. “I’ve been talking a lot about foundation and hopefully in the next couple seasons I can really build on it. That’s really been the focus. I’m not worried about the minutes or the games played, anything like that. It’s just been a massive learning experience for me in my first year, which has been good for me.”
- The Bulls were missing five rotation players on Thursday, but Donovan expects Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Patrick Williams to all be available for Sunday’s game at Sacramento, according to Cowley. Jalen Smith (calf strain) and Anfernee Simons (left hand injury) both remain sidelined with no set timetable to return.
Ivey Gets DNP-CD With Bulls’ Crowded Backcourt Healthy
With Josh Giddey and Tre Jones back in action on Thursday following injury absences, Jaden Ivey was the odd man out in a crowded Bulls backcourt. Ivey, who started three of four games and averaged 28.8 minutes per night for Chicago prior to the All-Star break, didn’t play at all in a home loss to Toronto and said after the game that he thought it was the first DNP-CD of his career, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.
Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr., acting as head coach with Billy Donovan away from the team following the death of his father, explained that it was “strictly a basketball decision” necessitated by having a fully healthy backcourt, as well as a desire to have Giddey and Jones play regular roles in their first game back.
“I talked to several guys (Thursday) morning, and then I addressed the team about it, and it’s just a byproduct of where we are in our composition,” Unseld told reporters.
Giddey and Jones, who were on minutes restrictions, played 21 and 22 minutes respectively, while recent trade acquisition Anfernee Simons logged 31. Collin Sexton and Rob Dillingham, the team’s other newly added guards, played 15 and 10 minutes off the bench.
As Lorenzi writes, the usage of the guards seemed to be at odds with the Bulls’ actions earlier this month at a busy trade deadline. With its seven deadline deals, Chicago appeared prepared to pivot toward its younger players, but Simons and Sexton – veterans on expiring contracts – are ahead of Ivey, a restricted-free-agent-to-be, and second-year guard Dillingham on the depth chart for now.
Asked after the game about his DNP-CD, Ivey offered little clarity, according to Lorenzi, who says the former Piston repeatedly referenced his faith and declared that he doesn’t “really trust the NBA setting.”
“When moves are made behind the scenes, trades and stuff,” Ivey replied when asked what he meant. “I don’t trust that part of (it). I mean, you can’t trust it, because it’s not in your hands. So it’s not in my hands to make moves, or trade myself.”
Ivey later said he was told the decision to sit him on Thursday was the result of “a series of things,” including ongoing knee soreness that he referred to as something he’s been dealing with “for years.” The fourth-year guard underwent surgery on his right knee in October that delayed his season debut, but he hasn’t been listed on the injury report recently and said that soreness isn’t something that will “keep me from doing my job.”
Still, there have been some questions this season about whether Ivey is at 100% after returning from a broken left leg that ended his 2024/25 season, as well as that right knee surgery. He played a reduced role in Detroit (16.8 MPG) prior to the trade and didn’t look like his old explosive self. Asked if there are still health-related steps to take before he regains his former athleticism, Ivey offered an eyebrow-raising response, Lorenzi notes.
“I’m sure people can call it out — I’m not the same player I used to be,” he said. “(The knee soreness is) why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead. I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.”
As Lorenzi observes, it’s possible the Bulls will adjust their rotation going forward and Ivey’s DNP-CD ends up being a one-off that’s quickly forgotten. But based on Thursday’s usage, it doesn’t appear at this point that developing Ivey and Dillingham is a top priority for the team.
Collin Sexton Fined $35K For Inappropriate Gesture
In one of the most unusual fines in NBA history, Bulls guard Collin Sexton was docked $35K for making an inappropriate gesture on the playing court, the league office tweets.
The incident occurred with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter of the Bulls’ 123-115 loss to Brooklyn on Monday. Sexton missed a free throw, then made the second attempt. As the ball was being inbounded by the Nets, Sexton stared at the rim and made a middle finger gesture toward it.
Sexton was appearing in just his second game with Chicago after being traded by Charlotte last week. He finished the night with 21 points and five rebounds in 32 minutes.
The fine is only a small portion of Sexton’s $18,975,000 salary. He’s a free agent at the end of the season.