2026 Off-Season: What's Left?

NYG · Post #1 » by **NYG** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 1:23 am

What is still yet to play out this off-season? What major things will still happen before opening night?

This isn't fill out your roster, minor depth moves. This thread is for starter-caliber player movement.

gswhoops · Post #2 » by **gswhoops** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 1:26 am

Other than the obvious one?

Post #3 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 1:31 am

Baron Von James

jayjaysee · Post #4 » by **jayjaysee** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 1:37 am

Dallas really should trade a starting level (not great starter) PF..

But LBJ, Duren, Watson, Mathurin all seem worthwhile free agents. Kuminga thinks he is. Harden/Dray new deal unknown. Demar and Beal sort of.

NYG · Post #5 » by **NYG** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 1:43 am

jayjaysee wrote:Dallas really should trade a starting level (not great starter) PF..

But LBJ, Duren, Watson, Mathurin all seem worthwhile free agents. Kuminga thinks he is. Harden/Dray new deal unknown. Demar and Beal sort of.

Any other trade targets outside of free agency?

shrink · Post #6 » by **shrink** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 1:50 am

MIN may be looking for a non-starting level PF to play a starting PF role.

gswhoops · Post #7 » by **gswhoops** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 2:05 am

Without any cap space teams left it seems like a pretty foregone conclusion that Duren and Watson are back with their respective teams next year

babyjax13 · Post #8 » by **babyjax13** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 2:22 am

1. LeBron
2. Denver doing literally anything, including clearing up the Peyton Watson situation (I think this will let more than one deal come loose)
3. Kawhi situation being resolved
4. Does Boston do any follow-ups to the Brown trade?
5. Surprise star trade? I imagine there is at least one, probably Davis or Zion?
6. Does Milwaukee/Klutch get investigated for the Trent deal, especially if they add Watson?

Those are the story lines I am watching.

Post #9 » by **Diop** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 2:37 am

small thing but DFS is barely mentioned in media releases with Charlotte, he's definitely going to play elsewhere.

charlotte can't be finished. im sure they don't want to just cut players and would much rather do some trades.
Grant Willams and DFS can both help playoff teams. Salaun is only 20, still improving and could be worth a shot with a team with spare minutes.

Devilanche · Post #10 » by **Devilanche** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 3:58 am

OKC - I think we make a move to duck down the second apron once we have clarity on cason extension .

It’s between Cason / Dort for that apron move. Not even sure if it’s possible since nobody have capspace now to outright absorb …

Itzmotto · Post #11 » by **Itzmotto** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 4:45 am

Devilanche wrote:OKC - I think we make a move to duck down the second apron once we have clarity on cason extension .

It’s between Cason / Dort for that apron move. Not even sure if it’s possible since nobody have capspace now to outright absorb …

Didn't the Trades of Wiggins $ Joe fix the second apron situation at least for 1 year?. I think after this year they will move on from Dort pay Cason wallace move JDub to start at the 3 very good defender just not as physical

Itzmotto · Post #12 » by **Itzmotto** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 4:52 am

babyjax13 wrote:1. LeBron
2. Denver doing literally anything, including clearing up the Peyton Watson situation (I think this will let more than one deal come loose)
3. Kawhi situation being resolved
4. Does Boston do any follow-ups to the Brown trade?
5. Surprise star trade? I imagine there is at least one, probably Davis or Zion?
6. Does Milwaukee/Klutch get investigated for the Trent deal, especially if they add Watson?

Those are the story lines I am watching.

That contract definitely shocked me at this point in his career.Didnt make any sense just drafted a guard.. traded for Herro.Ryan Collins and Porter I believe started also AJ Greene

Post #13 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 5:09 am

Diop wrote:small thing but DFS is barely mentioned in media releases with Charlotte, he's definitely going to play elsewhere.

charlotte can't be finished. im sure they don't want to just cut players and would much rather do some trades.
Grant Willams and DFS can both help playoff teams. Salaun is only 20, still improving and could be worth a shot with a team with spare minutes.

DFS buyout, move to Lakers or Minny.

Post #14 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 5:13 am

Devilanche wrote:OKC - I think we make a move to duck down the second apron once we have clarity on cason extension .

It’s between Cason / Dort for that apron move. Not even sure if it’s possible since nobody have capspace now to outright absorb …

I know I've talked this out with you guys but I still think it's 2 of Caruso/Cason/Dort and depends on what Cason and Dort want to extend. I think the homegrown Cason and Dort will have sway over Caruso if they are willing to extend combined for less than $45m

Post #15 » by **Mavrelous** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 5:22 am

The 3 RFAs Duren, Watson and Mathurin
LeBron and the subsequent moves, Harden and Kuminga

The rest is buy outs and vet mins I think.

Snakebites · Post #16 » by **Snakebites** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 6:31 am

At some point the staring contest between Duren and the Pistons will be resolved…somehow.

Devilanche · Post #17 » by **Devilanche** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 6:33 am

Itzmotto wrote:
Devilanche wrote:OKC - I think we make a move to duck down the second apron once we have clarity on cason extension .

It’s between Cason / Dort for that apron move. Not even sure if it’s possible since nobody have capspace now to outright absorb …

Didn't the Trades of Wiggins $ Joe fix the second apron situation at least for 1 year?. I think after this year they will move on from Dort pay Cason wallace move JDub to start at the 3 very good defender just not as physical

Might need see updated but I think we would have been out of second apron only if we decline Dort as well .

Post #18 » by **Diop** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 6:42 am

Devilanche wrote:OKC - I think we make a move to duck down the second apron once we have clarity on cason extension .

It’s between Cason / Dort for that apron move. Not even sure if it’s possible since nobody have capspace now to outright absorb …

charlotte has a TPE to use but I doubt they would take Dort for free. the TPE is a sensitive issues with Lamelo fans :lol:

Captain Ballmer · Post #19 » by **Captain Ballmer** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:25 am

Barring any trades, there are quite a lot of spots open for most teams and several MLE and more spending power exists.

Hawks - Kuminga Sign&Trade for assets?
Celtics- one roster spot open for possible buyout FA candidates
Nets - can have either 15 M cap space, or use Mann+Clowney and Picks for incoming S&T option for any big names (Duren?)
Hornets - Have huge trade exception around 40 M, also 16 guaranteed contract. They will probably waive/trade Tre Mann or trade Salaun/Grant
Bulls - They have like 9 Million room exception and 1 open spot left.
Cavs - They are under 37 million from 2nd apron to fill 3 roster spots with one of them Harden extension, rest for maybe some 41 years old?
Nuggets- Have open 4 roster spot but only 6,5 M room under the 2nd apron with S.Jones and P.Watson RFA waiting. A trade is definitely happening here.
Pistons - Duren contract amount. They have like 46 M under the Tax level.
Warriors - 35 Million under 2nd apron. Only have 11 contracts. Draymond extension, LBJ chase and possible Beal-Derozan FA candidate.
Rockets - Hard Capped, 2 roster spots for 10 Million left. Possible buyout FA candidate
Pacers - 1 open roster spot for league minimum. Possible buyout FA candidate
Clippers - Kawhi Trade situation. IF trade goes, They have 45 Million to address for Mathurin and possible P.Watson S&T additions.
Lakers - 15 roster spot full with just below tax.
Grizzlies - They have 18 guaranteed contract without their 1st rd pick K.Lopez signing. Expect them to buyout KCP-Kris Murray and Grant depends on how much he sacrifices.
Heat - 3 open roster spots(Minimum) for possible buyout FA candidates. Westbrook? Beal?
Bucks - Full roster. Possible to trade Turner, buyout Levert/Kuzma depends on how much he sacrifices.
Wolves - 2 open roster spots, have league minimum for LBJ or other buyout candidates.
Pelicans - One roster spot for like 8 Million to spend MLE for god know why.
Knicks - 2 open rosters for 3.2 Million under 2nd apron. I expect them carry 14 contract only with only one buyout signing for minimum.
Thunder - Full roster with 12 million over 2nd apron. Dort Trade?
Magic - 1 open roster spot for 2.4 Million under 2nd apron. I expect them in season buyout signing for minimum.
Sixers - 1 roster spot open for league minimum. A guy 41 years old on the target.
Suns - might create one roster spot waiving Bouyea but they only 4.8 million under the 2nd apron.
Blazers - 1 roster spot with 8 million under tax to fill with MLE exception but their cheap aşs owner just prefer to go with 14 guaranteed contract.
Kings - 2 roster spots open with just 280K under tax. They might buyout D.Hunter or Lavine depending how much they sacrifices to create room.
Spurs - one open roster for only 2.1 million under tax. I expect them in season buyout signing for minimum.
Raptors - Kawhi Trade? If trade goes throuh they have one roster spot open with only 600K under Tax. I expect them in season buyout signing for minimum.
Jazz - Full roster but they can cut Mykhailiuk to spend on that big Kessler trade exception.
Wizards - Have one roster spot open for Room Non tax MLE.

jayjaysee · Post #20 » by **jayjaysee** » Thu Jul 16, 2026 11:28 am

NYG wrote:
jayjaysee wrote:Dallas really should trade a starting level (not great starter) PF..

But LBJ, Duren, Watson, Mathurin all seem worthwhile free agents. Kuminga thinks he is. Harden/Dray new deal unknown. Demar and Beal sort of.

Any other trade targets outside of free agency?

The Dallas part is not free agency. Just the hope that the tides balances the roster.. But a lot of Dallas fans were begging for the same thing this time last year, and instead the team felt like all was good..

LAL and Minnesota needs a starting four and shouldn’t go into the season with their current roster. Minnesota I assume is holding hope for LBJ as they should.. Miami needs to add some depth, but assume that’s vet mins? Likely keeping those roster spot open for LBJ as well.

Charlotte should add a PG into the TPE. I understand they likely wouldn’t pay much for one meaning draft capital - but you can take on some overpaid guard to help Kon/Miller..

Brooklyn needs to finish their offseason, MPJ renegotiate and extend?

Denver hopefully just goes over second apron this season and then lets Cam walk. Just a couple hundred million dollars, no draft penalties..

Houston is interesting to me. Running the team back with FVV and Adams healthy always seemed the smartest move, but I expected them to make some kind of rotation changing trade? Whether that’s KD or Sengun or paying to upgrade FVV and really try to contend.