With the official begin of NBA free company just a bit over 24 hours away, let’s dive into a number of the newest rumors and reporting round what varied gamers and groups will do when it opens.
Wolves say “hell NAW” to retaining key free agent
Probably the most definitive replace right here is from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who’ve reached new agreements with each Naz Reid and Julius Randle over the past a number of days. Nevertheless, the scale of these contracts (4 years and $125 million for Reid, and three years, $100 million for Randle) all the time meant that the Wolves would in all chance not be capable of retain key reserve Nickeil Alexander-Walker with out exceeding the second apron, which all-but-guaranteed NAW can be on his manner out the door simply from a sheer monetary perspective.
And within the aftermath of Randle’s new deal being reported, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic — lengthy essentially the most plugged-in voice on the Wolves beat — reported what many already suspected to be true, that Alexander-Walker should search a payday elsewhere:
This deal does imply that NAW shall be headed elsewhere. Wolves have individuals behind him prepared for a shot and so they’re going to get it
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) June 29, 2025
Alexander-Walker was a beloved contributor to the Wolves’ back-to-back convention finals runs, however the brand new CBA and harsh apron penalties that got here with it ensured that overqualified bench gamers like him will usually shortly develop into an unaffordable luxurious for his or her incumbent groups.
As of Sunday morning, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein described the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks because the “strongest contenders” to signal NAW away from Minnesota.
Did LeBron James simply soft-launch a commerce request?
LeBron James opting in to his $52.6 million participant choice with the Lakers for subsequent season was all the time the anticipated final result, however quotes from his agent, Wealthy Paul, to ESPN’s Shams Charania within the aftermath of the choice actually left the door open for lots of reads about his final intentions (emphasis mine):
“LeBron needs to compete for a championship,” Paul informed ESPN. “He is aware of the Lakers are constructing for the longer term. He understands that, however he values a sensible likelihood of profitable all of it. We’re very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie (Buss) and Rob (Pelinka) and contemplate the Lakers as a essential a part of his profession.
“We perceive the issue in profitable now whereas getting ready for the longer term. We do need to consider what’s finest for LeBron at this stage in his life and profession. He needs to make each season he has left rely, and the Lakers perceive that, are supportive and wish what’s finest for him.”
LeBron needs to win a title subsequent yr adopted by a press release that means the 40-year-old doesn’t consider that’s the intention the Lakers have for this season actually says so much. But when this can be a commerce demand, it’s one which Paul and LeBron are doing their finest to verify James doesn’t get fined for. As an alternative, these quotes paint the image of a star attempting to border his time with the Lakers positively in order that they don’t take a reputational hit together with his exodus, whereas additionally very a lot letting followers (and the group’s entrance workplace) know that he’d prefer to attempt to compete for a title elsewhere subsequent yr as he nears retirement.
Each the Lakers and James are incentivized to work collectively right here. For the Lakers, LeBron seeking to transfer in a commerce may truly be doing them an enormous favor even when that wasn’t his intent, as it might enable them to (at the least in principle) get belongings again for him quite than him simply retiring and leaving Los Angeles with nothing. The strikes required for them to reset round Luka Doncic have been all the time going to be more durable with LeBron making a lot cash, and his asking out might allow them to begin to reset their books with out having to ask him to take a paycut or use considered one of his last seasons as a pseudo hole yr.
For James, opting in retains his no-trade clause, which provides him some energy over his subsequent vacation spot in a league with restricted cap area so as to add a wage of his dimension. Nevertheless, his opting in additionally forces him to at the least attempt to play good with the Lakers in order that each side can extricate themselves from this partnership amicably quite than tarnishing each of their manufacturers with an unpleasant commerce demand saga. The group will need to preserve its rep for doing proper by stars and thus in all probability gained’t play hardball, however finally nonetheless does have the ultimate say and don’t have to only ship LeBron someplace in alternate for unhealthy cash or unfavourable asset worth.
LeBron James has a no commerce clause, so he has management over his future in a possible commerce.
Much more reasonable for him to get to a different group by opting in as a substitute of an indication and commerce.
Under apron groups would wish to ship out $43.1 million to match his wage and commerce bonus.
– Yossi Gozlan (@yossigoan) June 29, 2025
We’ll see how this all shakes out, nevertheless it seems James and the Lakers are headed for a separation. The one query remaining past The King’s (seemingly last) vacation spot is straightforward: Who will get Bronny within the divorce?
The Lakers could also be in for a much bigger overhaul than anticipated
LeBron opting in wasn’t the one notable Lakers contractual information on the eve of free company. Lakers ahead and shut good friend of Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, opted out of his $15.4 million participant choice, permitting him to enter a free company market the place he’s seen as one of many prime veteran targets. If Finney-Smith truly departs and James is shipped elsewhere, that might be almost $65 million price of gamers from final yr’s roster who’re not with the group, a large changeover.
The gamers the Lakers acquired again in any hypothetical James commerce would make it in order that the Lakers don’t merely release that a lot cap area outright, nevertheless it might depart them in for a transition yr round Luka… with their new star on the eve of extension eligibility on Aug. 2, so suffice to say this free company shall be an early check of their latest star partnership, and inform us so much about how a lot of his future Doncic is prepared to decide to Los Angeles whereas the group nonetheless has work to do to subject a contender round him.
Newest on Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors
In his story on Duncan Robinson’s free company choices, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald was the most recent to report that Miami has “some degree of curiosity” in Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. This comes on the heels for each Shams and Anthony Slater of The Athletic hinting this week that the Warmth might be in pursuit of a sign-and-trade for the Warriors’ former lottery choose.
Golden State can clearly select to not take part in any sign-and-trade to get Kuminga the place he needs to go, and may match any supply given to him on a (dry) open market from a group that creates the cap area to provide him one. However Kuminga might additionally name their bluff, take their $7.9 million qualifying supply for subsequent season, after which choose his personal group subsequent summer season in unrestricted free company, so each side have a point of motivation to discover a win-win right here.
Elsewhere with the Warriors, 2022 champion Gary Payton II is alleged to be unlikely to return in free company, with Monty Poole of NBC Sports activities reporting {that a} supply informed him it was “uncertain” Payton is again in Golden State.
“Golden State nonetheless likes him, and there’s nonetheless an opportunity he’s again,” one other supply stated of the Warriors. “However they’ve a number of transferring components as they work by the Jonathan Kuminga scenario, so Gary might land elsewhere subsequent season.”
Our personal Joe Viray wrote for Golden State of Thoughts that that is an comprehensible replace from the Warriors’ facet as a consequence of Payton’s checkered current well being historical past:
Ought to Payton depart, the Warriors will miss his peskiness on the level of assault, athleticism uncommon in a 6’3” body, and his presence within the locker room. However the aforementioned accidents and inconsistency on the courtroom — in addition to the prioritization of Kuminga and different potential acquisitions — might push Payton out of the group that has given him one of the best stretch of his skilled profession.
NBA free company formally begins tomorrow, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, when free brokers are allowed to barter contracts with any groups across the league. Stated contracts can’t formally be signed till July 6, nevertheless, giving gamers and groups a number of days to mull their finest choices because the musical chairs refill and commerce dominoes fall.
