We’re getting into the dog days of August in the league, which are also known as the Jonathan Kuminga days–it’s really the time on the calendar when Kuminga is an important figure. Yes, things have slowed down considerably on the NBA trade rumor mill.
We’ve changed up the format here in the trade rumors update, and we’re focusing on a few things: What will become of the unresolved issues that are lingering from this offseason, and who could still be traded ahead of/early in the upcoming season. It turns out there are more of each than you might think–from the Lakers to Stephen Curry to Trey Murphy to prime restricted free agents.
And yes, Jonathan Kuminga, too.
Let’s get into it …
Kuminga, Lakers & Issues That Need Resolution
Jonathan Kuminga. There is still time for Kuminga to land a sign-and-trade deal this summer, and maybe something will materialize with the Lakers (unlikely), the Cavaliers (more likely, but still slim) or the Bucks (probably his best bet). Kuminga should just pull in a one-year deal, on a minimum or with some part of an midlevel exception, show he is worth a long-term commitment, and try again in free agency next year.
Lakers forward. One reason that Kuminga is still a prominent feature on the market is that there have been multiple times he has appeared certain to join the Lakers. But he passed on a credible offer to sign in LA and there isn’t much appetite for the Lakers’ assets in a sign-and-trade. So nothing has come to fruition. Other options (PJ Washington, De’Andre Hunter) appear to be fantasies, too. Could the Lakers just keep Jarred Vanderbilt and give him one last chance as the starting PF? There are not many viable options.
DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan got a buyout from the Kings, but has not picked his next destination yet. The Wizards (?) are the latest contender, but he is a possibility for Golden State, Miami, Cleveland, or a dark horse, as well.
Kawhi Leonard trade. It’s a stunning reality that we are well into August now and there is no end in sight for the Leonard/Aspiration saga. And things may have gotten worse with another Pablo Torre report about Leonard’s side deal with the Clippers’ scoreboard maker.
The league’s investigation probably will not be decided until after the season starts, which leaves the Raptors and Clippers in limbo–Leonard is supposed to be in Toronto, with Gradey Dick and Brandon Ingram in LA. The two sides could be forced to undo the trade, especially if it appears Toronto would bear the brunt of misdeeds that happened in LA. It’s a longshot option, but gaining plausibility.
Tough Going for Unsigned Restricted Free Agents
Jalen Duren, Pistons. The possibility of a sign-and-trade was never realistic for Duren, and it should be only a matter of time before the gap can be bridged between his ask for a max deal and the Pistons’ lowball offer. Detroit has all the leverage, and Duren will have to come around.
Peyton Watson, Nuggets. There is movement in Watson’s situation, and he is the target for a continued Bucks push–Milwaukee has a traded player exception that could absorb a significant salary. They do not want to give up a first-round pick, however. The Clippers figure into this mess, too, and there is a chance that the Nuggets will try to keep Watson. But Denver would have to shed salary to make that happen.
Bennedict Mathurin, Clippers. There has been interest in Mathurin from a handful of teams, but any deal would need to be a sign-and-trade and that seems unlikely at this point. The Clippers might be more willing to move off of Mathurin if they knew what was happening with the Leonard trade, but even still, if they can get Mathurin at a bargain cost, they’d prefer to do that and trade him later.
NBA Trade Rumors: What Becomes of the Extension Targets?
Stephen Curry, Warriors. If Curry wants a full max extension (two years, $136 million), the Warriors absolutely would give it to him. But Curry could do his team some favors by agreeing to take a lesser number, and that will be the focus when he is eligible for a deal on August 29.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks. Towns is eligible for a four-year, $275 million contract extension this summer, and at one point in NBA history–two or three years ago–the team probably would have rubber-stamped such a deal. But the Knicks are going to continue to become more expensive, so they will resist giving Towns the full max. Is there a happy medium?
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Heat. Antetokounmpo could sign an extension starting on October 1, or he could wait until early January, which would make him eligible to sign for four years and $275 million. The expectation is that’s how things will play out here–though, like Towns, whether the Heat negotiate on a full max deal or simply hand Antetokounmpo the max will be worth watching.
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets. Jokic has been clear that he does not want to leave Denver, but also has been clear he won’t sign an extension this season, instead holding off until he can land a five-year, $360 million deal next summer. The hope in Denver is that he is only waiting to maximize his earnings, and not because he will seek a trade if he is unhappy with the team’s direction.
Anthony Davis, Wizards. The Wizards want Davis (who was extension eligible beginning on August 6) to stick around, but he needs to show he is healthy and productive. If he can do so, the Wizards can either lock him up, long-term, or trade him for younger assets if Davis wants out. Thus, the sides have agreed to put off further extension talks, according to ESPN, and will revisit the issue in the early part of the season.
Michael Porter Jr., Nets. Brooklyn is willing to keep Porter (who has been eligible for an extension all summer) but won’t overpay him. Porter feels he should get something starting in the range of his current contract ($40 million) and the Nets do not want to go that high. If there is no middle ground, it could be trade talk time.
Players on Buyout Watch
Zach LaVine, Kings. There was talk that perhaps the Kings would buy out LaVine, but with $49 million on his deal, that might be too much to ask. And no one is trading for him at this point, not at that number.
Klay Thompson, Mavericks. The Mavs are saying they won’t buy out Thompson and will seek to move him in a trade … which is exactly what any team would say if it had a veteran on the roster who might be bought out. There has been chatter about Thompson being traded to Miami, but if that does not come to fruition, a buyout is likely to happen.
D’Angelo Russell, Grizzlies. Russell wants to play for Memphis just about as little as the Grizzlies want him to play for the team, so a buyout should be in the offing. It’s only a matter of when, it seems.
Getty Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks
NBA Trade Rumors: Guards Who Could Still Move
Jordan Hawkins, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: one year, $7 million.) Hawkins never lived up to his lottery billing after his impressive UConn tournament run in 2023, so the fact that he is on the trade block is probably not exactly newsworthy. Still only 24, but he is a career 37.4% shooter.
Ty Jerome, Grizzlies. (Remaining contract: two years, $19 million, including player option.) Jerome took advantage of the mess in Memphis last year and averaged 19.7 points, shooting 42.0% from the 3-point line. The Grizzlies will need to thin out their roster, and the 29-year-old Jerome really does not fit here. He would have good value if Memphis wants to flip him for future assets.
Dennis Schroder, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: one year, $14.6 million.) Schroder has played for 11 teams in the NBA so far, and the Cavs would be open to making it 12 as they seek to duck the second apron and still stay in the contending picture.
Dalton Knecht, Lakers. (Remaining contract: two years, $10 million, including two teams options.) Knecht showed some promise as a rookie but fell off in Year 2 and is now a contract filler in a potential trade. It has been surprising that no team has been willing to gamble on his upside–he is only 25.
NBA Trade Rumors: Wings Who Could Still Move
Max Strus, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: one year, $16 million.) The Cavs are trying hard to fit everything under the second apron, and that could mean moving off Strus, if they can find a taker.
Moses Moody, Warriors. (Remaining contract: two years, $26 million.) Moody is potentially going to be ready for the start of the season, and is said to be staying put. But if the Warriors do anything trade-wise this summer, speculation holds it will involve Moody.
Trey Murphy, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: three years, $88 million.) There have been rumblings that the Pelicans would deal Murphy, and equal rumblings have indicated they won’t. Murphy is a favorite in NBA trade rumors, but New Orleans is slow-playing any potential trade.
Saddiq Bey, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: one year, $6.5 million.) Bey came back with a strong season last year after tearing his ACL, averaging 17.7 points and shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.7% from the 3-point line. It was for a bad team, but he showed he still could be an adequate wing off someone’s bench.
Patrick Williams, Bulls. (Remaining contract: three years, $54 million,) It would be symbolic and probably cathartic for fans to see Williams dumped as a new front office and coaching staff comes in. But Williams’ contract is prohibitive.
Jonathan Kuminga, Hawks. (Remaining contract: Free agent.) Kuminga was the big story last year when the Warriors did not want to commit significant years and money to him in restricted free agency. Now, in unrestricted free agency, no one wants to commit significant years and money to him. Still desperately looking for a sign-and-trade.
Michael Porter Jr., Nets. (Remaining contract: one year, $40 million, partial guarantee.) Porter will wind up in the trade-candidate bin if extension talks falter.
Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers. (Remaining contract: one year, $10 million.) Jones is a defensive ace still, and his expiring contract gives the Clippers some wiggle room to move him. They’re caught in the Aspiration pause, however.
Kyle Kuzma, Bucks. (Remaining contract: one year, $20 million,) His expiring contract is attractive and if the Bucks pull a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson, Bennedict Mathurin or Jonathan Kuminga, he could be involved.
DeAndre Hunter, Kings. (Remaining contract: one year, $25 million.) The Kings want to keep him as an expiring contract they could potentially flip, but he’s being mentioned as a possible target in the summer market.
Royce O’Neale, Hornets. (Remaining contract: two years, $21 million,) The Hornets would not be able to trade O’Neale with anyone else yet, so they could wait on a deal. But the team has gotten calls about moving him on after he was traded last month.
Jake LaRavia, Lakers. (Remaining contract: one year, $6 million.) Hustles, plays every game, but inconsistent. His contract makes him an attractive piece, though, as the Lakers figure out how to finish their roster.
Herb Jones, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: four years, $82 million, including player option.) Jones is a popular name on the market, but the Pelicans are said to want two first-round picks, and with Jones having struggled with injuries and his 3-point shot in the past two seasons, that’s probably too steep. His remaining contract scares off potential suitors, too.
Cam Johnson, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: one year, $23 million.) Johnson was a disaster in his lone season in Denver, and he has been a prominent feature on the NBA trade rumor mill for years now. He still has enough of a reputation around the league to warrant trade interest, but the Nuggets value the fact that he has an expiring contract.
PJ Washington, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: 4 years, $90 million.) Like Gafford, Washington is aging out of the Mavericks’ timeline, as he turns 28 this summer. He’s a stretch 4 who plays good defense, but his shooting has been suspect–he made just 32.5% of his 3s last year. Like Gafford, they’re hoping to get a first-round pick, but the contract is prohibitive.
GettyHerb Jones
NBA Trade Rumors: Power Forwards/Centers Who Could Still Move
Jalen Smith, Bulls. (Remaining contract: one year, $9 million.) Plenty of teams are still on the hunt for a backup center, and Smith would be a nice fit in multiple situations. The Bulls could cash in for younger assets.
Nikola Jovic, Heat. (Remaining contract: four years, $62 million.) There is trepidation about trading for Jovic, who is certainly available and is still only 23 years old. But the remaining contract is a hefty bite for teams to take. Are the Mavericks the answer?
Grant Williams, Hornets. (Remaining contract: one year, $15 million.) The Hornets are not quite done with their roster, and Williams’ expiring deal has some value. He can still be a worthy big man off the bench.
Zeke Nnaji, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: four years, $32 million.) Dumping Nnaji would get the Nuggets under the second apron and free them up to resolve Peyton Watson’s situation. The Hornets are a potential landing spot.
Jarred Vanderbilt, Lakers. (Remaining contract: two years, $26 million.) The Lakers have been trying to find a taker for Vanderbilt, but no one has been eager to take on his contract. It’s possible the Lakers will use him in their rotation, much to JJ Redick’s chagrin, and attempt to trade him during the season.
Aaron Gordon, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: three years, $110 million.) Someone may have to go depending on how the Peyton Watson ordeal finishes. It could be Gordon, though his recent injury history makes that tough.
Daniel Gafford, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: 3 years, $54 million.) Gafford will be 28 in October, and with the Mavs focused on getting younger, moving him along has been one of the team’s top options. They’re hoping to get a first-round pick for Gafford, but that might be a big ask because of his contract.
NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Unresolved Issues, Kawhi Leonard Latest & NEW Big Board of Targets