NBA rumors LIVE updates: Latest updates on trades, free agency and more – USA Today

This NBA offseason looks like it could be a memorable one.
The league has already experienced seismic trades, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s move from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ big swing acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets.
But stars such as Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and perhaps even Anthony Davis of the Washington Wizards are among the big names reportedly available that could be on new teams shortly. LeBron James, meanwhile, leads the list of potential free agents up for grabs this offseason.
The NBA’s tampering period, during which teams are allowed to negotiate with all upcoming free agents from other teams, begins on Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. The rumors, however, are already in full swing, with constant speculation about where the best players might end up.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking all the news and rumors related to NBA free agency and trades, with live updates leading into the next key date on the league’s offseason calendar. Here’s what’s happening right now:
After seven years with the Los Angeles Clippers, it appears the Kawhi Leonard saga is coming to an end, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. On a Monday evening appearance on ESPN’s flagship show, SportsCenter, Charania said the Clippers have continued to engage in trade talks with the Toronto Raptors for Leonard, who has one-year left on his deal. According to Charania there has not been any indication the Clippers want to give Leonard an extension and the two-time Finals MVP is only open to signing an extension in Toronto.
Jalen Duren rumors have picked up steam since Chris Haynes and Sam Amick reported Jalen Duren wanting out of Detroit and to be in Sacramento. Amick reported that Duren had a call with the Los Angeles Lakers scheduled for Tuesday. Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is reportedly “known to be a fan of Duren’s game”, according to The Athletic. This could be be a huge factor in the decision-making process.
There’s a notion going around that the Washington Wizards would be open to trading veteran All-Star center Anthony Davis, but only for the right price. For Golden State to form a possible elder super-team with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and a potential-LeBron James and Davis signing, the Warriors would need to get off of Jimmy Butler’s contract. According to Hoops Wire, the Wizards do not want Butler who is owned $56.8 million and coming off a torn ACL. If Golden State wants Davis to land it’s going to take a third team.
Harrison Barnes is running it back in San Antonio. The veteran forward’s representatives told ESPN that he intends to sign a one-year, $8 million deal to stay with the Spurs. Barnes has spent the last two seasons in San Antonio. He played 77 games last season with 52 starts.
Walker Kessler will be testing the market. The Jazz center and his representatives will meet with multiple teams when free agency opens Tuesday night, The Athletic reported. Kessler is a restricted free agent, so Utah can match any offer he signs. The two sides remain apart on a new deal. The Jazz offered roughly $140 million over five years, but Kessler is looking for more. He averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his last full season
Kristaps Porzingis is staying by the Bay. The veteran center has agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, with a player option in the second season, ESPN reported. The deal runs through 2027-28. Golden State acquired Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks at the February trade deadline and wanted him back at a discount. In 15 games with Golden State, he averaged 16.1 points.
Jalen Duren is looking for an exit out of Detroit. The Pistons’ center is looking for a sign-and-trade and plans to meet with the Sacramento Kings when free agency opens, NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported. He also has a call scheduled with the Los Angles Lakers, The Athletic reported
Haynes also reported that a deal with the Kings would be easier, because that is where Duren wants to land.
The Pistons and Duren remain far apart in contract talks. Duren is a restricted free agent, so any move would need Detroit’s cooperation, and the team has said it wants him back. He made his first All-Star team last season and earned All-NBA third team honors, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Kevin Huerter is sticking around Detroit. The veteran sharpshooter intends to sign a three-year, $27 million deal to return to the Pistons, according to ESPN. Detroit acquired Huerter from the Chicago Bulls at the February trade deadline to address its shaky perimeter shooting. The move was widely panned as the top-seeded Pistons were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round. Still, Huerter brings a career 37.1% three-point shotting track record to a team built around Cade Cunningham.
Jusuf Nurkic is staying put. The veteran center intends to sign a two-year, $22 million contract to return to the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN. Nurkic averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 41 games last season before nose surgery ended his year in February. He was the fist player in Jazz history to post three straight double-doubles. Now, he gives the Jazz veteran frontcourt depth as Utah continues to build around its young core.
Oklahoma City is keeping its longest-tenured player around for at least one more run. The Thunder picked up Lu Dorts $17.7 million team option for the 2026-27 season Monday, according to ESPN. The decision keeps the core of the 2025 championship roster intact. Dort joined the Thunder as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and grew into an Al–Defensive First Team wing.
A key starter during the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA Finals run is returning to the team. Wing Julian Champagnie will sign a new 3-year, $42-million contract, according to ESPN, after the franchise elected to decline his $3 million team option for the 2026-27 season. He’s now signed through the 2028-29 season.
Add Jonathan Kuminga to the list of unrestricted free agents in the NBA this offseason. The Atlanta Hawks plan to decline Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season, according to ESPN. The Hawks acquired Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline last season. The 23-year-old averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
The Memphis Grizzlies finally found a new home for Ja Morant after months of trying to trade him. The former All-Star point guard is headed to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN, with Jerami Grant and Kris Murray going back to the Grizzlies in return.
Bradley Beal has declined his $5.6 million player option to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2026-27 NBA season, according to multiple reports. Beal’s plans of teaming with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden with the Clippers last season fell apart quickly when he suffered a fracture in his hip and had to undergo surgery just six games into last season. Beal, 33, is approaching his 15th NBA season.
Former NBA Rookie of the Year and 3-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is on the comeback trail, he told Men’s Health, and the Miami Heat are a team he’d be interested in joining.
Simmons didn’t play in the NBA this past season and instead pursued professional fishing. He last played for the LA Clippers, appearing in 18 games after the Brooklyn Nets bought out his contract during the 2024-25 season. Simmons was once one of the top defensive players in the league, but persistent injury problems limited his long-term effectiveness.
Simmons noted he’s an unrestricted free agent and coaches have told him there’s a spot in the NBA for him if he’s healthy.
“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 in regards to a potential return to the NBA. “I don’t have a plan on where.”
“Maybe I’ll go back to Philly,” he added. “Miami would be nice. And not because it’s Miami— I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture.”
The speculation about LeBron James potentially joining the Golden State Warriors picked up steam on Monday when Draymond Green elected to opt out of his contract with Golden State, creating more room under the salary to potentially add James. But there may be a new caveat to the situation involving Anthony Davis.
James, according to ESPN, would only join the Warriors if they are able to get Davis from the Wizards and form a nucleus with Stephen Curry and Green. Jimmy Butler’s agent, meanwhile, told ESPN that the Warriors remain “resolute in their plan to support Jimmy through his rehab and have him return to form and continue together on a quest to compete for a championship. That remains true today as I respond to you.”
Marcus Smart has declined his player option to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers and will instead become a free agent, according to multiple reports. Smart was set to make $5.4 million if he opted in to the final season of the two-year deal he signed last year. The Houston Rockets are expected to be the top suitor for Smart when free agency opens. It would reunite Smart with his former Celtics coach, Ime Udoka.
Former No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins is planning to stay with the Miami Heat rather than officially head to free agency, according to multiple reports. Wiggins has reportedly opted in to the final year of his current contract for the 2026-27 season and agreed to sign an additional 3-year, $64-million contract that includes a player option in the third year.
Wiggins will now be part of the supporting cast around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo at a salary point that might give the Heat cap space to add a few more pieces, particularly more shooting.
Where Jaylen Brown could wind up if the Boston Celtics trade him continues to spark speculation ahead of the start to NBA free agency. The Denver Nuggets have quickly become a team mentioned as a possible destination for Brown, with the intriguing prospect of teaming with Nikola Jokic. The Portland Trail Blazers and Clippers are also viewed as potential suitors, according to ESPN.
The Brooklyn Nets have secured two of their young players to new contracts after declining the team option on both of their rookie deals, according to ESPN. Center Day’Ron Sharpe intends to sign a 2-year, $20-million contract and forward Josh Minott will sign a 2-year, $9-million when the NBA’s signing moratorium ends.
Center DeAndre Ayton has elected to opt in to his $8.1-million player option to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026-27 season, according to multiple reports. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 NBA Draft averaged 12.5 point and 8 rebounds per game on 67.1% shooting from the floor during his first season with the Lakers.
Draymond Green is opting out of the final year of his contract with the Golden State Warriors, but it’s to help the team. Green has declined a player option worth nearly $27.7 million for the 2026-27 season, according to ESPN, and will now become an unrestricted free agent.
Green’s move, however, could be a boon for the Warriors, who can pursue LeBron James with the full midlevel exception as a result of this move. Golden State is reportedly seeking James and his former Lakers’ teammate, Anthony Davis of the Washington Wizards, as the NBA offseason gets into full gear.
Zach Lavine is opting in to the final year of his contract with the Sacramento Kings, according to multiple reports. He is set to make nearly $49 million during the 2026-27 based off the five-year max deal he initially signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2022. Lavine averaged 19.2 points in 39 games for the Kings last season. It was his lowest scoring average since the 2017-18 season, though Lavine remains a trade candidate, especially since he’s now on an expiring deal.
James Harden has officially declined the $42.3 million player option in his contract, according to ESPN, but it’s with the purpose of negotiating a new multi-year agreement with the Cavaliers. Harden was traded to Cleveland at the trade deadline this past season and helped lead the team to the Eastern Conference finals.
With free agency about to really heat up, all eyes turn to a pair of former MVPs, LeBron James and James Harden, who top our rankings of best available players.
There has already been some action well before the free agency start, as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu plans to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return. Also returning to their teams are Washington Wizards guard Trae Young, who agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who is set to ink a four-year, $185 million extension, the largest contract in NBA history for an undrafted player. — Scooby Axson
Now that the 2026 NBA Draft is done, the league’s attention turns to the start of free agency, with the official “tampering” period beginning on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
But teams and free agents can’t sign their contracts until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET when the NBA’s moratorium on signings ends.
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