NBA free agency intel: Latest on Warriors, Knicks, Lakers, Pistons, more

All 30 teams across the NBA are rapidly shifting their attention from the 2026 NBA Draft to free agency, which officially begins on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. ET, when teams and players are officially allowed to begin negotiating with one another.

Of course, teams have been allowed to negotiate and speak with their own free agents since the NBA Finals ended, and we have already seen countless deals agreed upon as a result.

Trae Young is staying with the Washington Wizards on a four-year, $212 million max contract, Austin Reaves isn’t leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after getting a four-year, $185 million max deal, and Ayo Dosunmu received a five-year, $112 million contract from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

CJ McCollum, Coby White, Collin Gillespie, and Mark Williams all agreed to contracts to remain with their current organizations as well.

And then there are the trades that went down, both before and after the NBA Draft. Giannis Antetokounmpo is finally a member of the Miami Heat after the Milwaukee Bucks cut ties with their legend, and LaMelo Ball was rapidly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves after the Charlotte Hornets began listening to offers for him.

There has clearly been a shift in mindset across the league.

In previous years, teams were operating with caution when it came to pulling off big moves in free agency and on the trade market, emphasizing patience over going all-in. Well, many teams are now operating on two- or three-year windows to compete for a championship, other than those built to sustain, like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

All of the cap implications and concerns over the second apron have teams simply going for it now, which is why the Heat and Timberwolves gave up a slew of assets for Antetokounmpo and Ball, respectively.

As a result, we are preparing for plenty of other trade action around the league heading into the start of free agency and with NBA Summer League right around the corner.

With free agency drawing near, let’s start with the Golden State Warriors, who have already made a key contract decision with one of their veterans.

Warriors talking contract with Porzingis

On Thursday, Al Horford declined his $6 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the intent to sign a new two-year, $14 million contract. As of right now, the exact details of this contract have yet to be determined, like whether there will be another player option, but sources told ClutchPoints it will likely contain a 15% trade kicker.

With Horford back, the Warriors have been focused on hammering out a deal with free agent center Kristaps Porzingis, whom the team acquired at the trade deadline from the Atlanta Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.

Sources say the Warriors have been actively engaged in conversations with Porzingis, with both sides wanting to get a deal done. Last season, Porzingis was in the final year of his contract, making roughly $30.7 million. His next contract is expected to be a short-term deal that puts the team in good financial standing to have access to their full mid-level exception.

Whether or not Draymond Green opts into his $27.6 million player option is the big question at large, as getting the veteran to opt out and sign a long-term deal at a reduced rate would only help the Warriors in their quest to have cap flexibility. As of right now, the word surrounding Green is that he will most likely be opting into his contract.

De’Anthony Melton also owns a $3.4 million player option, but he is not expected to return to the Warriors, sources said.

In terms of having access to their full mid-level exception, the Warriors firmly believe that they are the frontrunners to land LeBron James if he left the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. Once again, Golden State is pursuing LeBron, and this will be their best chance yet… assuming James would even consider taking a massive pay cut to join them.

That is a big ask to go from making $50 million to $15 million or $16 million for the year, but this is LeBron we are talking about. He wants to win at the end of his career, and if there is any player who could afford to take this massive reduction in salary and still make up for it in his endorsements and business ventures, it’s LeBron.

Outside of bringing back Porzingis and pursuing LeBron in free agency, the Warriors are said to want to add at least one more guard to their backcourt who can handle secondary playmaking abilities and provide depth behind Stephen Curry.

Originally, sources said the plan was to target Brayden Burries in the NBA Draft for this role, and Golden State believed they were about to do so after both the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks passed on him with the eighth and ninth overall picks, respectively. But the Bucks took Burries right before the Warriors, leading them to go with another player high on their draft board — Yaxel Lendeborg.

The Michigan forward will instantly hold a key role in Steve Kerr’s rotations as a do-it-all guy who can defend every position. Lendeborg’s length and versatility are two key attributes that the Warriors are excited about.

What’s next for Jalen Duren, Pistons? 

This is a very weak free-agent class for centers. The only way the Pistons would let Jalen Duren go is if they could execute a sign-and-trade to add some assets, including a potential high-level replacement for him, which isn’t happening. There is even more of a need for the team to keep Duren after trading Isaiah Stewart to the Grizzlies.

Multiple reports have surfaced regarding Duren and the Pistons being very far apart in negotiations, something that sources have also echoed to ClutchPoints. Duren was a max deal over $200 million following his All-NBA season, and Detroit has not come close to offering the 22-year-old that deal.

Eventually, the expectation is that the two sides will find common ground on a new deal, especially since the Pistons don’t want to see him leave and can’t really afford to have him leave a massive hole in their frontcourt.

That is why Duren is putting pressure on the organization by signaling he will explore sign-and-trade routes and offer sheets when free agency begins. The Pistons may need to pay him more than they would like, but losing Duren would be a nightmare for Detroit coming off a 60-win season. Their priority is bringing him back, and the organization is not exploring sign-and-trade scenarios, sources said.

Other than dealing with Duren’s contract situation, the Pistons sent two future second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday for sharpshooter Isaiah Joe. Unfortunately for the Thunder, Joe was a casualty of cost-saving measures. He now joins the Pistons after shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range each of the last four seasons in Oklahoma City.

Joe has made 681 threes in this span, the 25th most in the NBA.

After trading for a 3-point specialist, many around the league are now wondering whether this will lead to Duncan Robinson’s departure. With the Pistons angling themselves to pursue Norman Powell and others in free agency, Robinson’s contract could become vital to free up needed funds. His 2027-28 salary is non-guaranteed, and Robinson is only guaranteed $2 million if the Pistons were to waive him right now.

That would essentially be $14 million extra that Detroit would have to operate with in free agency to add Powell or someone else. Veteran forward Tobias Harris and the Pistons are also said to have strong mutual interest in a new deal, although he is among a group of four forwards drawing attention from multiple teams. Harris wants to continue contributing to a winning team positioned to contend for a championship.

More on the free agent forwards shortly.

Will Knicks enter second apron?

Fresh off their first NBA championship since 1973, New York Knicks owner James Dolan has been persistent in saying that he will not cross into the second apron. Is this just Dolan expressing his frustrations with the league and all the different rules he doesn’t agree with that they’ve changed through the years, or is he actually serious about not wanting to be in the second apron?

It is worth mentioning that Dolan and the Knicks are usually the only ones to go against the league votes in Board of Governors meetings when new rules are being proposed and voted on, so the first idea that he’s trying to make a point to the NBA that championship teams can’t stay together due to the apron penalties has some legs to it.

But by the sounds of things, along with multiple reports surfacing, Dolan doesn’t appear to want to enter second-apron land, which would mean goodbye to Mitchell Robinson, the team’s longest-tenured player.

Robinson finds himself as the best rebounder and rim protector in free agency this offseason, and he is already drawing interest from a couple of teams.

After trading Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls and adding Julius Randle, many have wondered if the Brooklyn Nets would pursue Robinson with their cap space. This now appears to be a real possibility, with Marc Stein reporting that the Nets have “legitimate interest” in pursuing their in-city rival’s big man. Robinson and Randle spent five seasons together as one of the best rebounding frontcourts in the league.

And it shouldn’t come as a secret to anyone that the Lakers already have plans to pursue Robinson as well. Early talk regarding Los Angeles is that they are prepared to offer Robinson a long-term deal that would hold an annual average value around the mid-level exception, sources said.

The Knicks are roughly $9.7 million from the second apron with at least three roster spots to fill after having Jose Alvarado decline his $4.5 million player option to sign a new three-year, $14-plus million contract to return to the defending champions. Unless they are to take minimum contracts, it’s hard to envision Jordan Clarkson or Landry Shamet returning.

Assuming that the Knicks do not cross the second apron and lose Robinson in free agency, there will be a massive void in their frontcourt to fill behind Karl-Anthony Towns. Ariel Hukporti is a player New York is high on, but the team will immediately look at low-cost options on minimum deals to fill their No. 2 center spot.

Two names league sources brought up in connection to the Knicks as possible replacements for Robinson are Nick Richards and Kevon Looney.

Richards is an unrestricted free agent who likely won’t receive anything other than minimum-contract offers. His agent, Max Saidman of CAA, also represents Alvarado and has a great working relationship with Leon Rose and the Knicks’ front office.

Looney has an $8 million team option that the New Orleans Pelicans must decide on before free agency begins. Knicks head coach Mike Brown has an extremely strong bond with the 30-year-old big man dating back to their time together on the Golden State Warriors. New York had expressed interest in signing Looney in previous years.

Lakers eyeing frontcourt additions

The Lakers are focused on beefing up their frontcourt and finding Luka Doncic a suitable, long-term big man to play alongside. Although talk of LeBron’s future continues to be the elephant in the room, he is not their priority for the first time in a long time.

It is unknown at this point at what length LeBron, Rich Paul, and the Lakers’ brass have talked to one another this offseason, but it has become extremely clear that Los Angeles will not chase James in free agency. The Lakers have a certain price and idea of what they would want to keep LeBron for, and if he wants something else, that is completely up to him.

That is why there is a growing belief that he could actually depart the Lakers and finish his career elsewhere. Would that be next to Steph Curry on the Warriors? Would he be welcome to a reunion with the Heat or Cavaliers? Nobody knows right now, and nobody will know until LeBron makes that decision and informs Paul of his desires.

As already said, the Lakers will be one of the top suitors for Mitchell Robinson when free agency begins. His pick-and-roll abilities, paired with his defensive presence in the paint, are exactly what the Lakers are looking for.

The only downside to pursuing Robinson and possibly locking him into a long-term commitment is that his injury history is concerning, along with the fact that he hasn’t averaged more than 20 minutes per game over the last two seasons.

Although the Lakers have expressed interest in him previously, Duren is not viewed as a realistic option for Los Angeles, sources said. That leaves a few other notable names worth discussing: Robert Williams III, Walker Kessler, and Myles Turner.

Whereas Williams is a free agent who would take up part of the mid-level exception, Kessler is a restricted free agent that the Utah Jazz do not want to see go elsewhere. Even he himself has expressed a desire to hammer out the specifics of a long-term deal with Utah, so the chances of the Lakers getting involved for Kessler, a player they’ve attempted to trade for multiple times, is extremely low.

Turner is another player the Lakers have pursued in past trade talks, back when he was with the Indiana Pacers. The 30-year-old stretch big man signed a four-year, $108 million contract with the Bucks last offseason and ended up having his worst statistical year in quite some time, averaging just 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 38.3 percent from 3-point range.

With Giannis walking out the door, the Bucks are going through a complete roster overhaul and want to cut all of their long-term commitments, making Turner readily available for any team that would want to take on his contract. To this point, there haven’t been any strong indications that the Lakers want to do so, yet Turner still remains an option if they want to take on his deal to move off of Jarred Vanderbilt or Deandre Ayton.

Naz Reid is a big man the Lakers have strong interest in, sources said, but the Charlotte Hornets have not expressed to teams that they will make him available after being involved in the LaMelo Ball trade. One quick note on the Hornets — they are very much open to trading Miles Bridges, who is expected to be the next name moved from Charlotte.

The Lakers’ options to add talent in the frontcourt are thin. Outside of pursuing Robinson or Williams in free agency, the only other player who could be a low-cost last option for the year from free agency would be Nikola Vucevic. On the trade market, Jarrett Allen and Daniel Gafford would be the Lakers’ best options for an instant upgrade at the center position.

The belief among league sources before the NBA Draft was that the Mavericks were willing to trade Gafford to acquire another high draft pick inside the top 20. Now, it’s unclear whether the Mavs would trade him this summer or wait until the trade deadline.

Austin Reaves has already agreed to sign a new $185 million max deal with the Lakers, so the next order of business is finding that long-term option in the frontcourt right now.

Forward market to dominate MLE talk

NBA free agency is not what it once was. Teams are not spending freely due to concerns regarding the tax aprons, and most teams essentially “sign” their free agency by way of the trade deadline or offseason trade discussions with players in the final year of their contracts.

There are essentially three tiers of players in today’s league when it comes to the open market: max-level contracts, mid-level exceptions, and minimum contracts. Those days of guys signing $20 million per year deals or that middle tier of player are essentially dead, and they have to fit into one of these three categories.

This offseason, that mid-level exception tier is dominated by forwards like John Collins, Dean Wade, Tobias Harris, and Harrison Barnes. All four players are drawing the attention of multiple teams because of how valuable the forward position has become.

Should the Pistons run into a numbers problem, then Harris could opt to look elsewhere, but it’s like he will remain in Detroit.

Whether or not Harrison Barnes stays with the San Antonio Spurs may very well be contingent on if he’s willing to accept a minimum contract. The 34-year-old wing did not play in the final three NBA Finals games against the Knicks and will be phased out of San Antonio’s rotation, with Carter Bryant expected to take on a larger role heading into the 2026-27 season.

At most, Barnes is worth around the taxpayer mid-level exception from a team, which is about $6 million for the upcoming year.

Wade and Collins will have the most robust market for players who could receive the full mid-level exception (~$16 million) from teams this offseason. Whereas Wade has been a proven, consistent two-way forward for the Cavs over the last several years, shooting 36.2 percent from 3-point range this past year, Collins presents athleticism and pure rebounding skills.

There has been some talk of Collins being linked to the Timberwolves, but after trading for LaMelo, Minnesota won’t be able to offer the recent LA Clippers forward what other teams can. Sources say the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs are two prominent teams frequently mentioned among league circles as suitors for Collins.

Do not be shocked to see the Philadelphia 76ers get involved for either Wade or Collins, especially since they currently have access to their full mid-level exception.

More star trades on their way?

What’s going on with the LA Clippers?

Keaton Wagler is joining the team as the fifth overall pick from this year’s draft, where he will immediately be paired with Darius Garland in the backcourt. As of right now, Garland’s future is with the Clippers, and it doesn’t appear as if the organization has any intent to move him.

Much of the same can be said about the Clippers’ feelings toward superstar forward Kawhi Leonard. Owner Steve Ballmer and executive Lawrence Frank have always supported Kawhi, especially throughout the NBA’s investigation into the whole ordeal with Aspiration this past year, and Frank has made it abundantly clear that the organization’s plan is to win with Leonard.

That mindset has not changed yet, and the Clippers are not actively seeking trades involving Leonard, multiple sources told ClutchPoints. Now, if a team approached them with a massive trade offer for the seven-time All-Star, they would have to at least consider the idea of taking a step back and moving on from Leonard, especially since he turns 35 years old on Monday.

Multiple teams, including the Warriors, Timberwolves, and Pistons, have contacted the Clippers both at the trade deadline and this offseason to inquire about Leonard’s availability. At no point did Los Angeles show any interest in trading him, sources said.

The Clippers also haven’t received any indications from Kawhi or his camp that he is unhappy with the team. Obviously, Leonard wants to win, and LA has been opportunistic when it comes to roster building around him. Trading James Harden was a decision the Clippers made to open financial flexibility and add a younger, more dynamic guard in their backcourt next to Leonard in Garland.

With Collins coming off their books as a free agent, plus the real possibility that the Clippers may renounce Bennedict Mathurin’s rights as a restricted free agent, they can open up access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception. There is also the real possibility of the team moving on from Bogdan Bogdanovic, who pushed back his $16 million team option deadline to Monday before free agency instead of Friday.

For weeks, the word surrounding the Clippers is that they want to keep Leonard and that he wants to remain in LA. However, it’s hard to envision this organization making a monumental move that instantly puts them in the same class as the Thunder and Spurs at the top of the West. That is why rival teams can realistically envision Leonard seeking a trade this summer.

More clarity on Kawhi’s situation and the Clippers’ immediate future will be painted during Summer League in Las Vegas.

Across the country in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics have their own dilemma when it comes to a star player being mentioned in trade talks and needing to improve their roster. That is why Brad Stevens and the Celtics were aggressive in trade talks for Giannis, putting Jaylen Brown and draft picks on the table.

The problem now is that Antetokounmpo is heading to Miami, and Brown’s future in Boston is still very much up in the air, with the team continuing to listen to inquiries coming their way from teams expressing interest in Brown, according to ESPN. The Celtics have not completely ruled out a deal involving Brown this offseason, with teams continuing to engage in trade conversations surrounding the star forward.

Among those with interest in the Celtics’ two-way star, ClutchPoints has learned that both the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans have held trade dialogue with Boston in recent weeks. It is unknown at this time to what extent these conversations have gone and what potential players and draft assets are being offered, but it is worth noting that the Celtics have long held interest in Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III.

He had been at the center of trade discussions across the league in the weeks leading up to the NBA Draft, yet the Pelicans have long held a hefty asking price of multiple first-round picks for the young forward.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were another team that recently spoke about Brown’s availability with the Celtics before finalizing a trade with the Hornets for Ball, according to The Athletic.

As reported by ClutchPoints on Thursday afternoon, league sources close to the situation said Brown has not once approached any member of the front office or Stevens to ask for a trade. He did not do so at the end of the season, nor did Brown do so before recently embarking on his overseas trip to Asia.

Brown and the Celtics have reconciled once before when his name was brought up in trade talks for Kevin Durant, and it’s very possible they could do so again. After all, Brown is eligible to receive a two-year, $142 million extension from the Celtics starting on July 26. Money has cured a lot of problems throughout the course of NBA history, and it could once again be a factor now with Brown and Boston.

Even so, the Celtics have continued to receive trade calls centered around Brown both before and since the NBA Draft. If the Celtics are to deal him this summer, it would not be in any sign-and-trade scenario with another team that has a free agent to offer, sources said.

What happens next for Brown and the Celtics is an answer nobody has at this time.

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