Kawhi Leonard Trade On Hold Until NBA Concludes Aspiration Probe
4:55 pm: An NBA spokesperson told several media members — including Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link) — that there’s still no timeline for the investigation to conclude, but it’s expected to be completed “in the coming weeks.” That suggests the trade may not be finalized for a while, Reynolds notes.
2:06 pm: The Clippers and Raptors agreed to terms on June 30 on a blockbuster trade that will send Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, but three days after the moratorium period ended, the deal still hasn’t been made official.
On Thursday, the two teams explained why, announcing that the trade is on hold until after the NBA has completed its investigation into allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Leonard via a no-show endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration.
“For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff,” the Clippers said in a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). “While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.
“On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
“We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues. We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.”
The Raptors put out their own brief statement in which they, like the Clippers, say they expect to move forward with the trade once the NBA’s investigation wraps up (Twitter link via Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca):
“Regarding our planned trade with the L.A. Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi. In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.”
It has been over 10 months since the NBA hired the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate Aspiration’s ties to the Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer, and Leonard. The probe was opened after podcaster and investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported that Ballmer was among the company’s investors and that Leonard agreed to lucrative endorsement deal that didn’t require him to actually do any endorsement work for the company.
Torre spoke to Aspiration employees who described the arrangement as salary cap circumvention designed to pay Leonard beyond his NBA salary. The Clippers have steadfastly denied those allegations, contending that the team owner and its star forward separately reached agreements with the company – a team sponsor – and insisting that Ballmer was the victim of fraud, while the unusual requirements (or lack thereof) involved in Leonard’s endorsement deal were the result of Aspiration’s mismanagement.
Sanberg, the co-founder of Aspiration, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud after allegedly defrauding investors and lenders out of nearly $250MM, and was sentenced last month to 14 years in federal prison, as the Clippers noted in their statement.
Commissioner Adam Silver suggested at a press conference in early June that the NBA’s investigation was nearing its end, but he didn’t provide a definitive timeline and there haven’t been any updates from the league since then.
Depending on the league’s findings, it’s not entirely out of the question that Leonard’s contract could be voided, which would throw a serious wrench into the trade agreement between the Clippers and Raptors. That has long been considered a long-shot scenario, but the possibility of fines or lost draft picks for the Clippers remains very much in play.
Based on the wording of the Raptors’ statement, it sounds like they would only be impacted by a penalty affecting Leonard’s contract itself and wouldn’t assume the risk of those potential fines and lost draft picks. Still, it makes sense that Toronto would prefer to wait.
With well over two months until training camps begin, there’s no urgency to complete the trade immediately, and the Clippers and Raptors both expressed optimism within their statements that it’ll get done sooner or later. Still, this is a situation worth monitoring closely in the coming days, and will only increase the anticipation for the NBA’s eventual announcement of its findings.
According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet (Twitter link), there’s some hope that there will be resolution by Tuesday, when the NBA’s Board of Governors will meet in Las Vegas.
If and when the deal gets done, it’ll send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a series of draft assets, including two future unprotected first-round picks, to the Clippers. The Raptors, meanwhile, are expected to work out a contract extension with Leonard.
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.
Clippers To Trade Kawhi Leonard To Raptors
6:01 pm: The Clippers and Raptors have an agreement in place, according to Charania, who reports (via Twitter) that L.A. is receiving the following draft assets in the deal:
- The Raptors’ 2031 first-round pick (unprotected).
- The Raptors’ 2033 first-round pick (unprotected).
- The Raptors’ 2030 second-round pick.
- The Raptors’ 2033 second-round pick.
- The right to swap first-round picks in 2027.
The Thunder have swap rights with L.A. in 2027, so those ’27 swap rights the Clippers are acquiring in this deal could come in handy even if they finish well below the Raptors in the standings, since they could swap OKC’s pick for Toronto’s.
2:44 pm: Kawhi Leonard is set to head back to Toronto, according to Shams Charania of ESPN and NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter links), who report that the Clippers and Raptors are finalizing a trade agreement involving the star forward.
Sources tell Charania that Raptors will send forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap, and two second-round selections to L.A. in the deal.
Leonard, who began his NBA career in San Antonio in 2011, was traded to the Raptors ahead of the 2018/19 season and enjoyed one of the best one-and-done seasons a player has ever had for any team. He led Toronto to the first and only championship in franchise history, earning his second NBA Finals MVP award after also claiming the honor for the Spurs in 2014.
However, when his contract expired just days after securing that title, the Los Angeles native opted to return home, choosing the Clippers over the Raptors and Lakers in free agency. Leonard has spent the past seven seasons in L.A., making four All-Star teams during that time, but only won three total playoff series as a Clipper.
Leonard signed contract extensions with the Clippers in 2021 and 2024 and is once again eligible for a new deal this summer after submitting one of the best seasons of his career in 2025/26. He averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 32.1 minutes per game across 65 outings, with a shooting line of .505/.387/.892. The performance earned him a place on the All-NBA second team.
But given Leonard’s injury history, his age (he turned 35 on Monday), and a desire to maintain cap flexibility, the Clippers were reportedly unwilling to offer him another lucrative extension this offseason, which opened up a path to a trade. L.A. also listened to inquiries on Leonard at February’s deadline after moving veterans James Harden and Ivica Zubac in mid-season trades, but owner Steve Ballmer was said to be opposed to moving the star forward at the time.
Faced with the prospect of losing Leonard for nothing in 2027, the Clippers were more open to a deal this time around and quickly zeroed in on the Raptors, who appeared to be the only suitor with whom Kawhi was willing to sign an extension. Toronto was in position to offer L.A. an impact player in Ingram, who made his second All-Star team in 2026, along with a collection of draft assets.
According to Charania, while Leonard’s first choice would have been to remain with the Clippers if they were willing to make a longer-term commitment to him, he warmed to the idea of returning to Toronto because he’s familiar with the organization, likes the city of Toronto, and believes the Raptors are capable of contending in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors are now poised to negotiate a two-year extension to lock up Leonard through 2028/29, per Haynes (Twitter link). That deal could be worth up to $124MM, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
With their trades of Harden, Zubac, and now Leonard in the past five months, the Clippers have pivoted toward a younger, future-facing roster led by Darius Garland and this year’s fifth overall pick, Keaton Wagler while replenishing their draft assets. The front office may have more moves up its sleeve this offseason, with cap expert Yossi Gozlan noting (via Twitter) that the Clippers still have plenty of spending flexibility whether they decide to operate over or under the cap.
Ingram will earn $40MM in 2026/27, with a player option worth $41.9MM for the ’27/28 season. Dick is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract and will be extension-eligible this offseason before earning $7.13MM in ’26/27.
The Raptors, meanwhile, will reunite with Leonard on the heels of a strong bounce-back season that saw them win 46 games and make the playoffs for the first time since 2022. While Ingram had a strong year during his first and only season in Toronto, his mid-range-heavy game wasn’t always a clean fit next to star forward Scottie Barnes, who isn’t much of a three-point threat. Leonard’s ability to space the floor should better complement players like Barnes, RJ Barrett, and center Jakob Poeltl.
All-Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles, guard Immanuel Quickley, and youngsters Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead also figure to play key roles for Toronto, with 2026 first-round pick Allen Graves, forward Jamison Battle, and big man Trayce Jackson-Davis in the mix as well.
Adding Leonard’s $50.3MM cap hit to the books for 2026/27 in exchange for Ingram and Dick will make the Raptors’ cap situation a little tighter and significantly reduces the odds of the team being able to re-sign free agent big man Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Leonard’s $7.5MM trade bonus is another wild card to consider, Gozlan notes. While the Clippers would have to pay the bonus, it would hit the Raptors’ cap, and accommodating that extra charge doesn’t appear possible unless the Raptors shed some salary elsewhere. If Kawhi waives or significantly reduces his trade bonus and Toronto doesn’t expand the deal to send out any additional salary, the team will be hard-capped at the first tax apron but will have enough room to fill out the rest of its roster without reaching that hard cap, says Gozlan.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the Clippers and Raptors are prepared to make this deal before there’s resolution on the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to funnel Leonard additional salary through a no-show endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration. While that certainly suggests Kawhi’s contract is in no danger of being voided as a result of that probe, it remains possible that the Clippers will face some sort of penalty, depending on the league’s findings.
Clippers, Raptors Have Disagreements To Work Out In Kawhi Leonard Trade
While talks on a trade sending Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers to the Raptors are believed to be nearing completion, it sounds like there are still some obstacles to resolve.
League sources tell Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link) that the teams have agreed on a framework to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a first-round pick to L.A., but the Clippers are “pushing for more value.” He hears that they’re asking Toronto to include point guard Jamal Shead in return for taking on Dick’s contract.
There’s also a disagreement on the pick(s) involved in the deal, as the Raptors prefer to part with a first-rounder in 2027 or 2028 rather than one in the more distant future, according to Siegel. He adds that L.A. wants two firsts, including one several years from now, particularly if Shead isn’t being included.
The Raptors haven’t made Collin Murray-Boyles or Ja’Kobe Walter available in trade talks, according to Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints, confirming previous reporting from Michael Grange of Sportsnet. Azarly also states that the Clippers won’t be rushed into a deal for Leonard and won’t accept an offer that they’re not fully comfortable with.
Sources also tell Azarly that L.A. has offered an extension to Leonard, contrary to several reports, but not at the maximum of $126MM that he’s eligible to receive. Toronto is more willing to meet that figure, according to Azarly’s sources, which is why he wants to be dealt there.
Shead is coming off a strong second season, appearing in all 82 games (12 starts) and averaging 6.6 points and 5.4 assists in 22.6 minutes per night. Shead is also an outstanding defender who will be extension-eligible this summer, and he has one more year on his contract at $2.3MM before becoming a restricted free agent.
Dick was selected with the 13th pick in the 2023 draft, but had a rough season in 2025/26. He appeared in 76 games, but his playing time plummeted to 14 minutes per night, less than half of the previous season, and his other numbers declined sharply across the board. He’ll make $7.1MM in 2026/27 and is also eligible for an extension this offseason.
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.
Free Agent Notes: LeBron, Harden, Mamukelashvili, Martin
LeBron James is just days away from officially becoming an unrestricted free agent, but according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the star forward and the Lakers have yet to engage in serious discussions about what his next contract might look like if he remains in Los Angeles.
“There was a check-in call made, to my understanding, early in free agency, once teams were able to start negotiating with their own free agents after the NBA Finals,” Charania said during Thursday’s episode of NBA Today (YouTube link). “Since then though, there hasn’t been much communication, from my understanding, between the Lakers and LeBron James’ side. And certainly not an offer yet.”
The Lakers were able to work out an early deal with Austin Reaves because it won’t affect their potential cap room during free agency — they’ll keep Reaves’ more favorable cap hold on their books until after they’ve made their moves, then cap use his Bird rights to go over the cap to re-sign him. However, since a deal for James could have a more significant ripple effect on the rest of the Lakers’ offseason moves, they’re considering what else they could do before circling back to LeBron with a more concrete proposal, Charania explains.
“They’re trying to see what can we do with this $50MM of (cap) space, potentially, and then where does that leave LeBron,” Charania said.
Here are a few more notes and rumors on free agents from around the NBA:
- Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) continue to hear that the Cavaliers and guard James Harden are on track to reach a verbal agreement in the coming days on a new contract for the former MVP. Harden’s decision on a $42.3MM player option is due on Monday, but the expectation has long been that he’ll decline that option to sign a new multiyear deal with Cleveland.
- The Raptors have budgeted internally for an offer of about $10MM per year for free agent center Sandro Mamukelashvili, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. That would likely be contingent on trading Gradey Dick‘s expiring salary, Grange notes. It would also presumably require the Raptors to use a portion of the mid-level exception on the big man, since they only hold his Non-Bird rights. However, multiple league sources who spoke to Sportsnet expect Toronto to face plenty of competition for Mamukelashvili. “I think he’s getting multiple years guaranteed at more than $10 million a year,” one of those sources told Grange.
- After issuing a two-way qualifying offer to Alijah Martin, the Raptors are attempting to work out a multiyear standard contract with their 2025 second-round pick, Grange reports (via Twitter). Martin played sparingly in the NBA as a rookie, but had an excellent season in the G League, averaging 18.5 points per game on .485/.392/.720 shooting in 39 outings for the Raptors 905.
Raptors Interested In Reunion With Kawhi Leonard?
The Raptors, who continue to kick the tires on star trade candidates, have explored deals for Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Jaren Jackson Jr., and – most recently – LaMelo Ball within the past year, notes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
While Toronto has focused mostly on point guards and centers in its quest to acquire another impact player to pair with forward Scottie Barnes, the Raptors are open to a wide variety of potential targets. One option they’ve looked into, according to Fischer, is a possible reunion with Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard.
The Clippers’ preference this offseason is to hang onto Leonard, Fischer acknowledges, with team owner Steve Ballmer having reportedly opposed the idea of trading him at the in-season deadline when the Warriors and other clubs expressed interest. And Leonard, who left Toronto for his hometown of Los Angeles after winning a title with the Raptors in 2019, is believed to prefer to remain in Southern California too.
However, with the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers’ and Leonard’s dealings with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration still up in the air and Kawhi entering the final year of his current contract with the team, it’s not a certainty that he’ll stay in L.A. long-term. The two sides will have to work out a contract extension to keep the star forward off the 2027 free agent market, and it remains to be seen whether the Clippers are willing to keep paying $50MM+ annually for a player who will turn 35 next Monday.
If the Clippers do explore trade scenarios involving Leonard, he could exert some leverage in the process based on which teams he’s willing to sign extensions with. Sources tell Fischer that Leonard wouldn’t be interested in signing long-term with teams like the Pistons and Heat. In fact, Fischer hears that the only two clubs the two-time Finals MVP would be open to extending with are the Raptors and Spurs.
Fischer’s reporting aligns with comments made by ESPN’s Bobby Marks during Wednesday’s draft broadcast. Asked about possible trade suitors for Leonard, Marks referenced Kawhi’s “former teams” (Twitter video link).
It’s unclear if the Spurs, who are coming off an NBA Finals appearance and are building around their young core, would be open to reuniting with Leonard, but the Raptors have “genuine interest” in the possibility, Fischer insists.
Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter link) is more skeptical, noting that the Raptors felt during Leonard’s 2019 free agency like they were being used for leverage when he wanted Los Angeles all along.
The Clippers also believe they still have various paths to improve their roster around Leonard, according to Fischer, who says the team has mulled the possibility of renouncing free agents Bennedict Mathurin and John Collins to open up cap room, though it’s too early to say whether L.A. will go that route.
If the Raptors make a play for Leonard or another highly paid player, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett are among the players believed to be available, per Fischer. Quickley and Poeltl would likely be viewed as negative trade assets due to their sizable long-term contracts, but Barrett is on a fair expiring deal ($29.6MM) and Brandon Ingram (two years, $81.9MM) may also hold appeal to potential trade partners.
According to Fischer, Toronto has also been trying to find a new home for former lottery pick Gradey Dick, who is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract and will earn $7.1MM in 2026/27.
Eastern Notes: Wade, Pistons, Raptors, K. Jones
The Cavaliers are “expected to lose” veteran forward Dean Wade in unrestricted free agency, league sources tell Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Cleveland has been able to negotiate with Wade since Sunday, the day after the NBA Finals ended.
A former undrafted free agent who started his professional career on a two-way contract, Wade has spent all seven of his NBA seasons in Cleveland. The former Kansas State standout earned $6.6MM in 2025/26.
Jake Fischer previously reported that the Cavs were expected to prioritize re-signing Wade over fellow impending free agent Keon Ellis, but noted that a rival team could offer Wade a “healthy portion” of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is projected to start at $15MM next season.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype subsequently reported that multiple teams are expected to pursue Wade, a defensive specialist who averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 36.2% from three-point range in 59 games this season (22.3 minutes per contest). Scotto pointed out that it could be difficult for the cap-strapped Cavs to make a competitive offer to the 29-year-old.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Pistons hosted a pair of projected first-round picks — Santa Clara forward Allen Graves and Texas wing Dailyn Swain — for pre-draft workouts on Thursday, tweets Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Detroit controls the 21st overall pick in next week’s draft. In case you missed it, head of basketball operations Trajan Langdon discussed the Pistons’ draft options on Thursday.
- Trading Gradey Dick to create cap flexibility and re-signing Sandro Mamukelashvili seem to be priorities for the Raptors, Keith Smith of Spotrac writes in his offseason preview. If the Raptors are unable to retain Mamukelashvili, adding a backup big man using the mid-level exception will be important after Jakob Poeltl missed extended time in 2025/26 due to a back ailment, Smith notes. Smith expects Toronto to exercise its minimum-salary options on Jamal Shead and Jonathan Mogbo and potentially work out extensions with both players, but he doesn’t think the team will — or should — extend RJ Barrett, who will be a free agent in 2027.
- Kam Jones‘ NBA career didn’t exactly start off on a high note, observes Tony East of Circle City Spin. The Pacers added the former Marquette star with the the 38th overall pick in last year’s draft, but he suffered a back injury in the offseason and didn’t make his debut until mid-December. Even when Jones appeared to be at full strength, he didn’t play well as a rookie, East writes, and the 24-year-old guard will have to take real strides forward this summer if he wants to remain part of the team despite having a partially guaranteed contract for 2026/27.
Scotto’s Latest: MPJ, Mann, Wade, Mamukelashvili, Dick
While veteran forward Michael Porter Jr. will be eligible to sign a contract extension with the Nets this offseason, teams around the NBA are also keeping an eye on him as a potential trade candidate, writes Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Porter will turn 28 this month and is entering his ninth year in the NBA, whereas the rebuilding Nets added five rookies to their roster a year ago and are poised to draft another with the No. 6 overall pick on June 23. As Scotto explains, executives across the league aren’t convinced that Porter fits with Brooklyn’s timeline beyond his current contract, which will pay him $40.8MM in 2026/27 before expiring next summer.
According to Scotto, the Warriors were among the teams with interest in Porter at the deadline and considered giving up a first-round pick for him. That deal likely would’ve involved Jonathan Kuminga, who was sent to Atlanta as part of a package for Kristaps Porzingis instead. Based on its cap situation, Golden State isn’t as well positioned this offseason to make another run at Porter unless the team is prepared to move off Jimmy Butler‘s sizable expiring contract as he recovers from an ACL tear.
Scotto adds that Nets guard Terance Mann was involved in those pre-deadline trade discussions, but his involvement in a potential Porter deal would’ve necessitated a third team, which threw a wrench into those negotiations. Mann, who still has two years and $31.5MM left on his own contract, is well-liked in Brooklyn and is considered a positive locker room presence, says Scotto.
Here are a few more highlights from Scotto’s latest round-up of notes and rumors:
- Cavaliers forward Dean Wade, who will be an unrestricted free agent, is expected to draw interest from multiple teams who will have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception available, Scotto reports, pointing out that it could be difficult for a cap-strapped Cleveland team to make a competitive offer. The Cavs were the only club to operate over the second tax apron this past season and won’t have a ton of salary coming off their books if they re-sign James Harden.
- Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili is expected to decline his minimum-salary player option and command a significant raise in unrestricted free agency. According to Scotto, Mamukelashvili has a chance to earn a contract worth a significant chunk of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which has teams wondering whether Toronto will be able to retain him. The Raptors only have Mamukelashvili’s Non-Bird rights, and while they could use their MLE to re-sign him, they have luxury tax concerns to consider.
- Rival executives view Gradey Dick as the Raptors‘ most obvious trade candidate if they look to trim some salary and create more breathing room below the tax line. Dick, who is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract, is coming off a down year but was a regular starter and averaged 14.4 points per game in 2024/25, so the 22-year-old could be viewed as a bounce-back candidate, Scotto notes.
- In case you missed it, we also passed along reporting from Scotto on the Pelicans’ efforts to acquire a lottery pick and the Hornets and Kings discussing Domantas Sabonis.
Raptors Rumors: Dick, Poeltl, Barrett, Ingram, Mamukelashvili
Former lottery pick Gradey Dick would be amenable to a trade this offseason, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca, who suggests that moving off the 22-year-old is something the Raptors will likely consider as they look to manage a tricky cap situation.
Dick was drafted 13th overall in 2023 and showed some promise during his first two NBA seasons, knocking down 36.5% of his three-pointers as a rookie and then averaging 14.4 points per game as a sophomore. But his playing time (14.0 MPG), scoring average (6.0 PPG), and three-point rate (30.1%) all dropped off in 2025/26, casting doubt on his future in Toronto as he enters the final year of his rookie scale contract.
Dick’s $7.13MM salary for 2026/27 is fully guaranteed. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension beginning in July and would be on track for potential restricted free agent during the 2027 offseason if he doesn’t sign a new deal this year.
We have more on the Raptors:
- Confirming a prior report indicating that the Raptors inquired on Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline before the Grizzlies traded him to Utah, Grange says Toronto was actually “working hard” to try to acquire Jackson at that time, but Jakob Poeltl‘s contract was a sticking point, since no team was willing to take it on without being heavily incentivized to do so.
- Poeltl was still dealing with a back injury around the trade deadline, but the big man said his back didn’t bother him after the All-Star break or during the playoffs, per Grange. Still, that doesn’t mean Poeltl will have significantly more trade value this summer, since teams will remain reluctant to take on a deal that still features at least $81MM in guaranteed money.
- The Raptors appeared very willing to move RJ Barrett at the trade deadline, while Brandon Ingram earned an All-Star nod and led the team in scoring, but it was Barrett, not Ingram, who was more valuable in the postseason, Grange writes, wondering if the team might explore moving Ingram this offseason. Barrett will be entering the final year of his current contract, and while he’s an extension candidate, Toronto may be hesitant to lock him up long-term, as Grange and Eric Koreen of The Athletic point out, since he’s the only Raptor who will be on a big expiring deal that could be appealing in a trade. For his part, Barrett said on Monday that he hopes to stick with his hometown team.
- Sandro Mamukelashvili, who holds a minimum-salary player option for 2026/27, said on Monday that he “really wants” to return and that he loved the city and the organization, per Grange. However, if Mamukelashvili declines his option, the Raptors will only hold his Non-Bird rights and may have to use another exception to make a competitive contract offer.
- Exploring what the Raptors learned as a result of this season and their first-round playoff series loss to Cleveland, Koreen writes that Scottie Barnes is a bona fide star and that rookie Collin Murray-Boyles also looks like a long-term cornerstone, while head coach Darko Rajakovic deserves a contract extension. However, Koreen also notes that Barnes may need a co-star that better complements him and adds that the team badly needs more shooting.