Headlines

Hoops Rumors Originals News & Rumors

Players Currently Affected By Trade Restrictions

By | at September 8, 2025 9:34 am

The NBA has no shortage of rules affecting which players can and can’t be traded at any given time, which complicates our understanding of which players are actually moveable. That’s especially true leading up to the regular season, when players who recently signed free agent contracts, extensions, and rookie contracts all face different sets of trade restrictions.

In an effort to clear things up, we’re looking today at which players around the NBA are currently affected by trade restrictions of one kind or another. Let’s dive in…

Recently signed free agents

In most cases, a free agent who signed a contract in the offseason is ineligible to be traded until December 15.

Currently, our list of players who will become trade-eligible on December 15 features 80 names, including several of the guys who signed the biggest free agent contracts of the summer, such as Kyrie Irving, Myles Turner, and Julius Randle.

But the list is technically even longer than that, since we haven’t included players who signed non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 and/or Exhibit 10 contracts. Most of those players will be waived by opening night, but if they earn spots on regular season rosters, the December 15 trade restriction would apply to them as well.

A free agent who signs after September 15 won’t become trade-eligible until three months after his signing date.

Any player who has his two-way contract converted to a standard deal during the offseason also doesn’t become trade-eligible until December 15 or until three months after the move, whichever comes later. However, no players were promoted from two-way contracts to standard deals this summer. All the players who finished last season on two-ways either became free agents on July 1, were waived, or are still on their previous contracts.

A select group of players who signed free agent contracts this offseason won’t become trade-eligible until January 15. These eight players all meet a specific set of criteria. Not only did they re-sign with their previous team this offseason, but they got a raise of at least 20%, their salary is worth more than the minimum, and their team was over the cap, using Bird or Early Bird rights to sign them.

That group includes Naz Reid, Santi Aldama, and Sam Merrill, among others, and may end up featuring a few more current free agents, such as Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes, and Jonathan Kuminga.

The above rules apply to players who sign standard contracts, not two-way deals. A player who signs a two-way contract is ineligible to be traded for 30 days. There are currently five players to whom this restriction applies, including Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who signed with the Grizzlies on September 4 and won’t become trade-eligible until October 4.

Two-way players are rarely traded, but it happens every now and then, like when RJ Luis was sent from Utah to Boston in last month’s Georges Niang deal.

Recently signed draft picks

Like a player who signs a two-way contract, a draftee who signs his first NBA contract is ineligible to be traded for 30 days. Currently, this restriction only impacts two players: Celtics second-rounder Amari Williams, who signed on August 15, and Jazz second-rounder John Tonje, who signed on August 26. They’ll become trade-eligible on September 14 and September 25, respectively.

The rest of this year’s draftees can currently be traded.

That list of tradable 2025 draftees includes all the players besides Williams and Tonje who have signed, since more than 30 days have passed since their officially completed their deals.

It also includes the two players who remain unsigned – including Warriors second-rounders Alex Toohey and Will Richard – since their draft rights can be traded until they sign their contract. If Toohey and Richard officially sign NBA contracts for 2025/26, they’ll become trade-ineligible for 30 days.

Players with veto ability

Lakers forward LeBron James and Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard are the only NBA players who have genuine no-trade clauses in their contracts, but several other players have the ability to veto trades this season due to various quirks of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Clippers guard James Harden, Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, Nets guard Cam Thomas, and Magic big man Moritz Wagner are some of the notable players whose consent will be required to trade them during the 2025/26 season.

Under the current CBA, a player who would normally meet the no-trade criteria due to re-signing with his current team on a one-year contract (or a two-year deal with a second-year option) can opt to waive his right to veto a trade.

At least a dozen players have done so this season so far, including Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr., Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, and Mavericks guard Dante Exum, so once they become trade-eligible (on either December 15 or January 15), they can be moved without any issue.

Players who have signed veteran extensions

A player who signs a rookie scale extension becomes more difficult to trade due to the “poison pill provision,” but he could theoretically be moved immediately.

That’s not necessarily the case for a player who signs a veteran contract extension. A player who signs a veteran extension becomes ineligible to be traded for the next six months if he meets any of the following criteria:

  • His extension locks him up for more than four total years (including his current contract).
  • The extension includes a first-year bump of more than 20% (or more than 20% above the NBA’s estimated average salary, if his previous salary is below that average).
  • His extension includes an annual increase or decrease exceeding 5% anytime after the first year of the deal.

With the help of our extension trackers, here are the players currently affected by that rule, along with the dates they’ll become trade-eligible:

Since the trade deadline will land on February 5, a player who finalizes an extension between now and then (such as Mavericks forward P.J. Washington) wouldn’t become trade-eligible until the 2026 offseason.

Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford also signed an extension this offseason, but his deal didn’t exceed four total years, include a first-year bump exceeding 20%, or feature any subsequent annual raises greater than 5%, meaning he remains eligible to be traded.

Players who have signed Designated Veteran extensions

A Designated Veteran contract is also known as a “super-max” deal — it’s a maximum-salary contract that starts at 35% of the cap instead of 30% because the player has met certain performance criteria before achieving 10 years of NBA service.

A player who signs a Designated Veteran contract or extension can’t be traded for one full year after his signing date.

Only one player has signed a super-max contract this offeason: Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’ll become trade-eligible on July 7, 2026, the one-year anniversary of his signing.

Players affected by aggregation restrictions

When a team trades for a player via salary-matching or using an exception (ie. not by absorbing the player into cap room), that team can’t “aggregate” the player in another trade for two months. Aggregating a player means combining his salary with another player’s for matching purposes.

The majority of the trades made this offseason so far were completed in June or early July, at least two months ago, so this restriction only applies to a handful of players at the moment. Here are those players, along with the dates when they’ll become aggregation-eligible:

Any player who is traded this season after December 16 (without being acquired via cap room) won’t be eligible to be flipped prior to the trade deadline in a second deal that aggregates his salary with another player’s.

This aggregation restriction also applies indefinitely to any player on a team who is operating over the second tax apron. Currently, only the Cavaliers fit that bill.

3 comments Hoops Rumors Originals

Traded Second-Round Picks For 2026 NBA Draft

By | at September 8, 2025 8:27 am

We’re using the space below to keep tabs on each NBA team’s second round pick for 2026, continually updating it as necessary throughout the year. Our list of traded first-round picks for 2026 can be found right here.

We’ve listed all 30 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its second round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2027 if it doesn’t change hands in 2026.

Here’s the full breakdown on the status of each 2026 second-round pick:

Atlantic

  • Boston Celtics: Traded to Hawks or Grizzlies.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Brooklyn Nets: Traded to Heat (top-55 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Nets will keep it and their obligation to the Heat will be extinguished.
  • New York Knicks: Possibly traded to Celtics or Wizards.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Philadelphia 76ers: Traded to Thunder, Suns, or Wizards.
    • The Thunder will receive the most favorable pick of the Sixers’, Mavericks, and Thunder’s second-rounders; the Suns will receive the second-most favorable of the three; the Wizards will receive the least favorable.
  • Toronto Raptors: Traded to Pacers (top-55 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Raptors will keep it and their obligation to the Pacers will be extinguished.

Central

  • Chicago Bulls: Traded to Rockets.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: Own pick.
  • Detroit Pistons: Traded to Celtics, Magic, or Knicks.
    • The Celtics will receive the most favorable pick of the Pistons’, Bucks’, and Magic’s second-rounders; the Magic will receive the second-most favorable of the three; the Knicks will receive the least favorable.
  • Indiana Pacers: Traded to Hawks, Grizzlies, Spurs, Timberwolves, or Nets.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Milwaukee Bucks: Traded to Celtics, Magic, or Knicks.
    • The Celtics will receive the most favorable pick of the Pistons’, Bucks’, and Magic’s second-rounders; the Magic will receive the second-most favorable of the three; the Knicks will receive the least favorable.

Southeast

  • Atlanta Hawks: Traded to Nets.
  • Charlotte Hornets: Traded to Kings or Pistons.
    • The Kings will receive this pick if it lands between 31-55; the Pistons will receive if it lands between 56-60. The Hornets’ obligation to whichever team doesn’t receive the pick will be extinguished.
  • Miami Heat: Traded to Hawks, Grizzlies, Spurs, Timberwolves, or Nets.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Orlando Magic: Possibly traded to Celtics or Knicks.
    • The Celtics will receive the most favorable pick of the Pistons’, Bucks’, and Magic’s second-rounders; the Magic will receive the second-most favorable of the three; the Knicks will receive the least favorable.
  • Washington Wizards: Own pick.
    • If the Wizards’ first-round pick lands in the top eight, the Wizards would send the Knicks their second-rounder.

Northwest

  • Denver Nuggets: Traded to Hornets or Timberwolves.
    • The Hornets will receive the most favorable pick of the Nuggets’ and Warriors’ second-rounders; the Timberwolves will receive the least favorable of the two.
  • Minnesota Timberwolves: Traded to Celtics, Knicks, or Wizards.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Own pick.
    • The Thunder have the ability to swap their own pick for the Sixers’ or Mavericks’ second-rounder. The Thunder will receive the most favorable pick of the Sixers’, Mavericks, and Thunder’s second-rounders; the Suns will receive the second-most favorable of the three; the Wizards will receive the least favorable.
  • Portland Trail Blazers: Traded to Celtics, Spurs, or Wizards.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Utah Jazz: Traded to Spurs or Bucks.
    • The Spurs will receive this pick if it lands between 31-55; the Bucks will receive if it lands between 56-60. The Jazz’s obligation to whichever team doesn’t receive the pick will be extinguished.

Pacific

  • Golden State Warriors: Traded to Hornets or Timberwolves.
    • The Hornets will receive the most favorable pick of the Nuggets’ and Warriors’ second-rounders; the Timberwolves will receive the least favorable of the two.
  • Los Angeles Clippers: Traded to Nets or Grizzlies.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • Los Angeles Lakers: Traded to Raptors.
  • Phoenix Suns: Traded to Wizards.
  • Sacramento Kings: Own pick.

Southwest

  • Dallas Mavericks: Traded to Thunder, Suns, or Wizards.
    • The Thunder will receive the most favorable pick of the Sixers’, Mavericks, and Thunder’s second-rounders; the Suns will receive the second-most favorable of the three; the Wizards will receive the least favorable.
  • Houston Rockets: Own pick.
    • If the Rockets’ first-round pick lands in the top four, the Rockets would send the Thunder their second-rounder.
  • Memphis Grizzlies: Traded to Clippers or Trail Blazers.
    • The Clippers will receive this pick if it lands between 31-42; the Trail Blazers will receive if it lands between 43-60. The Grizzlies’ obligation to whichever team doesn’t receive the pick will be extinguished.
  • New Orleans Pelicans: Traded to Celtics, Spurs, or Wizards.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.
  • San Antonio Spurs: Possibly traded to Timberwolves.
    • Details outlined at bottom of article.

Here are the details on how the Knicks‘, Timberwolves‘, Trail Blazers‘, and Pelicans‘ second-round picks will be distributed:

The Celtics will receive the most favorable of the following picks:

  1. The Knicks’ second-round pick.
  2. The Timberwolves’ second-round pick.
  3. The Trail Blazers’ second-round pick.
  4. The Pelicans’ second-round pick.

The Knicks will receive the least favorable of the following picks:

  1. The Knicks’ second-round pick.
  2. The Timberwolves’ second-round pick.

The Spurs will receive the least favorable of the following picks:

  1. The Trail Blazers’ second-round pick.
  2. The Pelicans’ second-round pick.

The Wizards will receive the least favorable of the following picks:

  1. The most favorable of the Knicks’ and Timberwolves’ second-round picks.
  2. The most favorable of the Trail Blazers’ and Pelicans’ second-round picks.

Here are the details on how the Celtics‘, Pacers‘, Heat‘s, and Clippers‘, and Spurs‘ second-round picks will be distributed:

The Grizzlies will receive the most favorable of the following picks, while the Nets will receive the least favorable:

  1. The Clippers’ second-round pick.
  2. The most favorable of the Celtics’, Pacers’, and Heat’s second-round picks.

The Spurs will receive the most favorable of the following picks, while the Timberwolves will receive the least favorable:

  1. The Spurs’ second-round pick.
  2. The least favorable of the Pacers’ and Heat’s second-round picks.

The Hawks will receive the least favorable of the following picks:

  1. The Celtics’ second-round pick.
  2. The most favorable of the Pacers’ and Heat’s second-round picks.

Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.

1 comment 2026 NBA Draft Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Breakout Candidates

By | at September 7, 2025 10:27 pm

In an article for HoopsHype, Mike Shearer lists seven players who could be primed for breakout seasons in 2025/26. Here’s his full list:

Shearer acknowledges that Sharpe’s inclusion is a little unconventional, as the 22-year-old averaged a career-best 18.5 points per game in ’24/25. But the Canadian wing is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract and is eligible for an extension until October 20, so he certainly has financial reasons to be motivated for a big season.

Mathurin, who is also eligible for a rookie scale extension, should have a big role for Indiana with Tyrese Haliburton out for the year. Ditto for Nembhard, one of the league’s more unheralded role players who has a chance to show he can be more than that this season.

Boston revamped its roster this offseason for financial and roster-building reasons. There were rumblings that Hauser might be on the trade block, but he’s still a Celtic, and Shearer believes the former Virginia star should have plenty of opportunities to shine in ’25/26.

Shearer also describes why he thinks Miller (second season cut short due to wrist surgery), LaRavia (essentially replacing Dorian Finney-Smith) and Shannon (a Nickeil Alexander-Walker replacement?) could take leaps forward.

We want to know what you think. Do you agree with the players on Shearer’s list? If not, why? Which other players could be primed for breakout seasons? Head to the comment section to weigh in.

35 comments Boston Celtics Charlotte Hornets Community Shootaround Hoops Rumors Originals Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Lakers Portland Trail Blazers

Hoops Rumors’ 2025 Offseason Check-In Series

By | at September 7, 2025 3:59 pm

In advance of the NBA season, Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2025 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’re taking a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins.

All of our Offseason Check-In articles are linked below, sorted by conference and division.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

Western Conference

Northwest

Pacific

Southwest

1 comment Hoops Rumors Originals Offseason Check-In

NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Los Angeles Lakers

By | at September 7, 2025 2:46 pm

Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2025 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Free agent signings

  • Deandre Ayton: Two years, $16,208,000. Second-year player option. Signed using non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
  • Jake LaRavia: Two years, $12,000,000. Signed using non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
  • Marcus Smart: Two years, $10,524,700. Second-year player option. Signed using non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
  • Jaxson Hayes: One year, $3,449,323. Re-signed using Non-Bird rights. Waived right to veto trade.
  • RJ Davis: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Eric Dixon: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Arthur Kaluma: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Kylor Kelley: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Augustas Marciulionis: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.

Trades

  • Acquired the draft rights to Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45 pick) from the Bulls in exchange for the draft rights to Lachlan Olbrich (No. 55 pick) in the 2025 draft and cash ($2.5MM).
  • Acquired the draft rights to Adou Thiero (No. 36 pick; from Nets) in a seven-team trade in exchange for the draft rights to Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45 pick; to Timberwolves) and cash ($3.25MM; to Timberwolves).

Draft picks

  • 2-36: Adou Thiero
    • Signed to three-year, $5,949,688 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third-year team option.

Two-way signings

  • Christian Koloko
    • One year, $85,300 partial guarantee (will increase to $318,218 at start of regular season).
  • Chris Manon
    • One year, $85,300 partial guarantee.

Departed/unsigned free agents

Other roster moves

  • Signed Luka Doncic to a three-year, maximum-salary veteran contract extension that begins in 2026/27. Projected value of $160,838,784. Includes third-year player option.
  • Waived Jordan Goodwin (non-guaranteed contract).
  • Waived Shake Milton (non-guaranteed contract).
  • Waived Trey Jemison (two-way contract).

Salary cap situation

  • Operating over the cap ($154.6MM) and above the luxury tax line ($187.9MM).
  • Carrying approximately $194.8MM in salary.
  • Hard-capped at $195,945,000.
  • Three traded player exceptions available (largest worth $1,891,857).

The offseason so far

The Lakers’ offseason began in somewhat dramatic fashion when agent Rich Paul announced on June 29 that LeBron James was picking up his player option for 2025/26. James was one of 10 players who exercised a player option in June, but two factors made his case unique. First, the ’25/26 season will be the first time in his career that LeBron is on an expiring contract; and second, Paul was the only agent who put out a lengthy statement accompanying his client’s opt-in decision.

Within that statement, Paul said that LeBron “knows the Lakers are building for the future,” wants to contend for a title, and understands “the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future.”

“We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career,” Paul’s statement concluded. “He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”

Even for a player like James, whose two-plus decades in the NBA have included countless cryptic – some might say passive-aggressive – interview responses, social media posts, and media leaks, this one was a pretty rich text. Was LeBron suggesting he wanted a trade? Expressing displeasure that he didn’t work out a multiyear deal with the Lakers? Putting pressure on the team to go all-in in 2025/26? Hinting that he plans to retire next year?

We haven’t gotten a definitive answer to those questions over the past two months, but Paul’s statement also didn’t lead to any sort of summer fireworks involving the Lakers and James. We know based on their stunning Luka Doncic deal in February that the Lakers are capable of keeping a blockbuster trade under wraps, but there has been no indication that we’re headed in that direction with James, at least not in 2025. All indications are that the 40-year-old will open the season in Los Angeles and look to win a title alongside Doncic.

Still, it’s clear that a passing of the torch is in process in Los Angeles. While the organization has revolved around James since 2018, the spotlight has shifted to Doncic, who was also at the center of some early offseason speculation. As of August 2, Doncic’s extend-and-trade restrictions would lift and he’d be eligible to sign a maximum-salary extension with the Lakers. Would he take advantage of that opportunity and commit to the team long-term?

As August 2 approached, it became clear that there would be no drama on that front either. Not only did Doncic sign a maximum-salary extension with the Lakers, but he did so on the first day he was eligible, forgoing potential 2026 free agency and signaling that he’s all-in on L.A.

With Doncic extended and things relatively quiet on the LeBron front following that June statement, the Lakers’ focus this offseason was primarily on upgrading the roster around their two stars. The front office, which backed out of a trade for center Mark Williams at February’s deadline due to concerns about his physical, didn’t return to the trade market to make those upgrades, instead using a series of cap exceptions in free agency to improve the team’s depth.

One of four teams to use its entire non-taxpayer mid-level exception this offseason, the Lakers split their MLE between forward Jake LaRavia and center Deandre Ayton.

Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick, is the more familiar name of the two and fills a greater hole for the Lakers, whose lack of a reliable big man was an Achilles heel in their first-round playoff loss to Minnesota in the spring. But LaRavia, an underrated, defensive-minded forward who is still just 23 years old – and whose shooting percentages significantly improved in his third NBA season – shouldn’t be overlooked.

LaRavia could play an important role for L.A., especially since the team lost Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency to Houston. Finney-Smith’s exit was a little surprising, given that he thrived following his mid-season trade to the Lakers and only got two fully guaranteed years on his deal with the Rockets. The Lakers could’ve matched that offer even while prioritizing 2027 cap flexibility, but they’re betting on LaRavia and a healthy Jarred Vanderbilt providing the wing defense they sacrificed with Finney-Smith’s departure.

The Lakers also prioritized defense with their bi-annual exception, using it to add former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. The veteran guard has battled injuries over the past couple seasons, but if he’s back to full health, Smart would be a bargain on his $5.1MM cap hit this season — even if he’s not quite the player he was in his prime years.

Finally, in need of more depth at center beyond Ayton, the Lakers used Jaxson Hayes‘ Non-Bird rights to give him a raise to 20% above his minimum salary. Hayes was overextended as the club’s starting center in the second half of last season, but as a backup on a fairly team-friendly deal, he’s certainly capable of returning positive value.

Up next

Obviously, if anything is going to happen before next summer with James, it will be the most pressing item on the Lakers’ agenda. But if we assume that the four-time MVP at least plays out his record-setting 23rd NBA season in Los Angeles, there’s not much left on the club’s offseason to-do list.

While the Lakers only have 14 players on standard guaranteed contracts, they don’t currently have a path to adding a 15th man, since they’re only operating $1.1MM away from their first-apron hard cap. If they don’t shed salary by making a trade or buying out a player, they’d have to wait until at least mid-January to sign a veteran free agent.

The Lakers do have a two-way contract slot open alongside Christian Koloko and Chris Manon. With five players signed to Exhibit 10 deals, there could be an open competition in training camp for that spot. Undrafted rookie forward Eric Dixon would presumably be the favorite if he’s healthy — he was reportedly expected to sign a two-way deal in June, but after a foot injury prevented him from suiting up for Summer League games, he got an Exhibit 10 contract instead.

The Lakers do still have a handful of extension-eligible players on the roster after agreeing to terms with Doncic. Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, and Austin Reaves could all sign new deals. But Kleber and Vincent haven’t been healthy enough since arriving in L.A. to prove themselves as reliable, regular rotation players, and Hachimura may be more valuable as a trade chip if his contract remains expiring.

As for Reaves, he was offered an extension, but because he can’t sign for more than $89MM over four years at this point, he’s expected to wait until at least next summer, when he’d be eligible for a more lucrative contract.

13 comments Hoops Rumors Originals Los Angeles Lakers Offseason Check-In

Community Shootaround: Future Hall Of Famers

By | at September 6, 2025 3:11 pm

With a starry new Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class being inducted into Springfield this weekend, Zach Kram of ESPN and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic consider which current NBA players are on track for the honor down the line

This weekend, former All-NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are joining the Hall as first-ballot honorees.

Kram and Vorkunov both tackled the topic of who’s next by stratifying players into tiers of candidacy. Although each differed slightly on who the surefire “locks” would be, there was some overlap.

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Warriors guard Stephen Curry and forwards Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, Mavericks big man Anthony Davis and wing Klay Thompson, Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Clippers guards James Harden and Chris Paul and wing Kawhi Leonard, Lakers forward LeBron James, Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Sixers center Joel Embiid, and free agent guard Russell Westbrook are considered no-brainer picks by both parties.

There are a few other NBA players that only one of the two is convinced will be guaranteed honorees. Vorkunov is confident that Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will earn the honor. Kram, meanwhile, believes the Hall will anoint Sixers forward Paul George, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, while Vorkunov views those players as “near” locks.

Further down on each list — beyond young guns seemingly on track to get to Springfield like Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic — both Kram and Vorkunov each look at some fringe cases. Kram limits his list to active players, while Vorkunov also examines the candidacy of a few recent retirees.

Among current “bubble” players, both agree that former All-Stars and champs Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love are in the mix for Hall of Fame berths. Kram believes DeMar DeRozan ranks among this group, while Vorkunov is more confident that the six-time All-Star is already a virtual lock.

We want to hear from you. Who do you think has punched their ticket already? Who needs to do more to make the grade? Who doesn’t deserve to be a lock? Weigh in below.

11 comments Community Shootaround Hall Of Fame Hoops Rumors Originals

NBA Teams With Fewest Players On Guaranteed Contracts

By | at September 5, 2025 2:58 pm

As of Friday, seven of the NBA’s 30 teams are carrying at least 15 players on fully guaranteed contracts and are unlikely to have many additional offseason acquisitions in store. Another nine teams are carrying 14 players on fully guaranteed deals, while 10 others have 12 or 13 guaranteed contracts on their books.

As our roster counts page shows, that leaves four clubs carrying 11 or fewer players on fully guaranteed deals. That doesn’t necessarily mean all four of those teams will sign free agents to guaranteed contracts before the regular season begins, but it’s worth checking in on them to take a closer look at their roster situations.

[RELATED: 2025/26 Non-Guaranteed Contracts By Team]

Atlanta Hawks

Although the Hawks are only carrying 11 players on guaranteed contracts, it’s possible no more additions are coming before the regular season, since they have four more players on partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed deals, and all four could be in the team’s plans.

One of those four players, Vit Krejci, should be a lock for the regular season roster. Krejci has been a regular rotation piece over the past two seasons and $1.5MM of his $2.35MM salary is also guaranteed. N’Faly Dante is the other Hawk with a partial guarantee — only $85,300 of his $2.05MM salary is locked in, but the Hawks probably wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of signing him away from Houston with an offer sheet if they planned to waive him before the season begins.

Former Magic forward Caleb Houstan and 2023 second-round pick Mouhamed Gueye have non-guaranteed minimum salaries for 2025/26. Houstan made 40% of his three-point attempts last season, and the Hawks may not be ready to give up on Gueye, who had his rookie year shortened significantly by a back injury.

Waiving any one of those four players would clear a path for Atlanta to either add a new 15th man or to carry an open roster spot into the regular season.

Cleveland Cavaliers

In addition to their 11 players on guaranteed salaries, the Cavaliers have Dean Wade, a reliable reserve whose contract features a significant partial guarantee, and Craig Porter Jr., a minimum-salary reserve who has been productive in limited minutes and who could play a greater role this fall if Darius Garland misses the start of the season due to toe surgery, as expected.

That’s still just 13 players on standard deals, so Cleveland will need to find a 14th man. Even though they could use some additional depth due to Garland’s toe injury and Max Strus‘ foot surgery, it’s probably safe to assume the Cavs won’t carry a full 15-man roster into the season since they already have the league’s highest payroll and won’t want to further increase their luxury tax bill if they don’t need to.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Cavaliers sign a player to a partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed contract for their 14th spot. That would give the team some flexibility early in the season to make a change at that spot if they need to bring in extra depth at a specific position.

A player on a non-guaranteed deal without an early salary guarantee date won’t have his salary for 2025/26 locked in unless he remains under contract through January 7, so the Cavs could maintain some flexibility with the 14th spot until then. For now, a guard or wing to help fill in for Garland and Strus would make sense.

Golden State Warriors

The offseason practically hasn’t started for the Warriors, who belatedly finalized a pair of draft-night trade agreements on July 6 and haven’t made a single roster move since then. Jonathan Kuminga‘s restricted free agency standoff is the reason for the hold-up. Until they know the exact value of Kuminga’s cap hit – or the cap hits of the players they acquire in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga – the Warriors want to hold off on filling out the rest of their roster, since they may need to navigate a hard cap.

For now, Golden State is carrying just seven players on fully guaranteed contracts, four below the total for any other team. But Trayce Jackson-Davis and Gui Santos, who have non-guaranteed salaries, are probably sticking around, and Kuminga would get them to 10 players if he re-signs.

The Warriors are also believed to have deals lined up with several free agents, starting with Al Horford, who will likely receive most or all of the taxpayer mid-level exception. Horford and De’Anthony Melton (likely on a minimum-salary deal) have been the free agents long assumed to have handshake agreements with Golden State. Seth Curry, Gary Payton II, and Malcolm Brogdon are among the other rumored candidates to sign with the team (Curry seems to be the most likely), along with second-round picks Will Richard and possibly Alex Toohey.

It’s probably safe to assume that some combination of these players will fill out the Warriors’ roster once Kuminga’s free agency is finally resolved. Whether they carry 14 or 15 players could depend on how much Kuminga signs for — if the forward accepts his $8MM qualifying offer, Golden State would be in a way better position to carry a full roster than if he signs the team’s reported proposal that starts at $21.75MM.

New York Knicks

The Knicks have 11 players on guaranteed salaries, with Ariel Hukporti as their non-guaranteed 12th man. Technically, waiving Hukporti to replace him with another player is a possibility, but New York has so little cap flexibility below its second-apron hard cap that it’s not a practical route, since Hukporti’s $1,955,377 cap hit gives the club important extra breathing room that a $2,296,274 veteran’s minimum deal wouldn’t.

As their situation stands, the Knicks have enough room below the second apron to sign one veteran free agent to a minimum-salary contract and one draft-rights-held player to a rookie-minimum deal. A salary-shedding trade could change the equation for the club, but if that doesn’t happen, the Knicks have next to no maneuverability and won’t be able to add a 15th man until near the end of the season.

While swapping non-guaranteed players on and off the roster during the first part of the season is a viable option for a team like Atlanta, it’s not practical for New York, since those moves would burn much-needed room below the hard cap. That may be one reason why the Knicks are taking their time to decide who their 13th and 14th men will be. Once they sign those guys, they may end up committed to them for a while.

9 comments Atlanta Hawks Cleveland Cavaliers Golden State Warriors Hoops Rumors Originals New York Knicks

NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Detroit Pistons

By | at September 5, 2025 1:21 pm

Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2025 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Detroit Pistons.

Free agent signings

  • Duncan Robinson: Three years, $47,978,871. Second year partially guaranteed ($2MM). Third year non-guaranteed. Signed using Bird rights and acquired via sign-and-trade from Heat.
  • Caris LeVert: Two years, $28,913,200. Signed using non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
  • Paul Reed: Two years, $10,938,583. Second year non-guaranteed. Re-signed using Early Bird rights.
  • Javonte Green: One year, minimum salary. Partially guaranteed ($925,106). Signed using minimum salary exception.

Trades

  • Acquired Duncan Robinson (sign-and-trade) from the Heat in exchange for Simone Fontecchio.
  • Acquired the Hornets’ 2026 second-round pick (top-55 protected) from the Kings in exchange for Dennis Schröder (sign-and-trade) and either the Pistons’, Bucks’, or Knicks’ 2029 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).

Draft picks

  • 2-37: Chaz Lanier
    • Signed to four-year, $8,785,386 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.

Two-way signings

Note: The Pistons carried over Tolu Smith on a two-way contract from 2024/25.

Departed/unsigned free agents

Other roster moves

Salary cap situation

  • Operating over the cap ($154.6MM) and below the luxury tax line ($187.9MM).
  • Carrying approximately $166.8MM in salary.
  • Hard-capped at $195,945,000.
  • Full bi-annual exception ($5,134,000) available.
  • One traded player exception available (worth $14,104,000).

The offseason so far

After a franchise-worst 2023/24 season in which they endured a 28-game losing streak and registered just 14 total victories, the Pistons were one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises last year, improving by 30 wins to 44-38, making the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and picking up a postseason victory for the first time since 2008 (they’d been swept out of the first round in 2009, 2016, and 2019).

Heading into the offseason, there was speculation that Detroit would try to keep the band together by re-signing free agents Malik Beasley, Dennis Schröder, and Tim Hardaway Jr. — with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren still on the rise and Jaden Ivey returning from a season-ending injury, there was a pathway for the Pistons to keep improving internally without necessarily having to make any sort of impact outside addition.

It’s entirely possible that was the initial plan, but if so, it was derailed the day before free agency opened when word broke that Beasley was under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office for gambling allegations involving NBA games and prop bets. Reporting at the time indicated that the Pistons and Beasley were working toward a three-year, $42MM contract agreement, but those talks fell apart as the sharpshooter’s NBA future turned into a giant question mark.

The terms of that proposed deal suggests Detroit intended to either use cap room or its mid-level exception to re-sign Beasley, since they only held his Non-Bird rights. The mid-level route would’ve allowed the Pistons to operate over the cap, maintaining Hardaway’s Bird rights and Schröder’s Early Bird rights, which would’ve put them in position to re-sign both players.

But even before word of the Beasley investigation broke, there were reports suggesting that the Kings intended to make an aggressive play for Schröder. That turned out to be accurate, as Sacramento signed the veteran point guard to a contract equivalent to the full mid-level exception. Hardaway, meanwhile, landed with the Nuggets on a minimum-salary deal, an offer the Pistons could’ve easily topped if they’d made the free agent wing a top priority.

Given what happened with Schröder and Hardaway, we can probably assume then that even if they’d re-signed Beasley, the Pistons were committed to making some offseason changes. Without Schröder, Hardaway, or Beasley, a more drastic overhaul of the club’s supporting cast was necessary.

The Pistons made an effort to replace Beasley’s shooting by sending Simone Fontecchio to Miami in a sign-and-trade deal for forward Duncan Robinson. Beasley is more athletic and versatile than Robinson, but few players shoot the three-ball better than the longtime Heat forward, who has knocked down 39.9% of 7.3 attempts per game over the past six seasons.

While the terms originally reported for Robinson (three years, $48MM) raised eyebrows, his deal is only fully guaranteed in year one, with a $2MM partial guarantee for 2026/27. So the Pistons will have an exit ramp next summer if the first season doesn’t go as planned (or perhaps if Beasley is fully cleared and wants to return).

Having preserved their mid-level exception by acquiring Robinson via sign-and-trade, the Pistons were able to devote that full MLE to signing Caris LeVert, whom J.B. Bickerstaff previously coached in Cleveland. In LeVert, Detroit is getting something of an amalgamation of the three veteran free agents they lost — LeVert can score (albeit not shoot) like Beasley, can serve as a ball-handler like Schröder, and has a frame more like Hardaway’s, allowing him to defend bigger wings instead of just guards.

It still feels like the Pistons could use one more roster addition, and they do have the ability to go out and get one more player — they generated a $14.1MM trade exception in the Schröder sign-and-trade and have more than enough room under the luxury tax line to use the entire thing. But with no obvious target out there for now, Detroit will probably see what its rotation looks like this fall with the newcomers and Ivey back in the mix.

For what it’s worth, minimum-salary signee Javonte Green could make a case for regular minutes, and Beasley remains an option if it looks like he’s in the clear from a legal perspective. He’s no longer a “target” of the federal gambling investigation, but he remains a “subject” of interest. The Pistons still hold Beasley’s Non-Bird rights, giving them the ability to offer him a starting salary worth up to $7.2MM. Now that the market has mostly moved on, that could be the best offer he’ll get this year.

The Pistons made two other minor offseason moves worth mentioning. Detroit was rumored to have some interest in a stretch big like Myles Turner, Naz Reid, or Santi Aldama, but with those top targets out of reach, the team fortified its depth up front by reuniting with Paul Reed, who signed a two-year, $10.9MM deal.

Reed isn’t a long-term answer in the middle and the Pistons presumably don’t view him as such (only the first year of his contract is guaranteed), but he’s a familiar and reliable depth option who can play a modest role while the team continues to consider ways to upgrade its frontcourt.

Finally, having finally conveyed a traded first-round pick to Minnesota after it landed in its protected range for several years in a row, the Pistons only had a second-round pick available in June. They used that selection – No. 37 overall – to nab Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier, a five-year college player who may be polished enough to compete for a rotation role right away.

Up next

As noted above, the Pistons still have a pretty sizable trade exception available and have enough flexibility to add another $20MM to their cap sheet for 2025/26 without going into luxury tax territory. With that in mind, they’re a team worth keeping an eye on as trade talks pick up again this fall. Few playoff clubs have a more favorable short-term cap situation than the Pistons, making them an obvious candidate to make one more move before or during the season.

Detroit is currently carrying 13 players on guaranteed contracts, plus Green on a partially guaranteed minimum-salary deal, so even if they don’t do anything major before opening night, the Pistons could add a 15th man in free agency.

The more pressing preseason issue for the front office in the next month-and-a-half will be whether to complete rookie scale extensions with Duren and Ivey. Both players will be eligible for new deals up until October 20 and would become eligible for restricted free agency next summer if they don’t get something done this year.

Even with some teams around the league showing more reluctance this year to invest heavily in non-stars coming off their rookie deals, Duren seems poised to cash in. He has averaged double-doubles in consecutive seasons and is growing as a play-maker and rim protector. He’s also still just 21 years old, and with the Pistons’ long-term cap sheet relatively clean, the front office can afford to make a strong commitment to him, perhaps even via a front-loaded or flat contract that gets more team-friendly in the later years.

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report suggested a four-year, $112MM deal for Duren, while John Hollinger of The Athletic speculated that a five-year, $125MM arrangement might make sense for both sides. It looks like the four-year, $97MM contract signed by Nic Claxton last summer might be the floor for the Pistons’ big man.

Ivey, on the other hand, may have to wait until 2026 to cash in. His season ended in early January due to a broken leg, and while he appeared headed for a career year at the time, the Pistons will probably want to longer look at him in 2025/26 to see how he fits back into the mix — and to make sure that last season’s injury won’t have any lingering effects.

17 comments Detroit Pistons Hoops Rumors Originals Offseason Check-In

Longest-Tenured NBA Head Coaches

By | at September 4, 2025 6:00 pm

For the first time since we began taking an annual look at the NBA’s longest-tenured head coaches a decade ago, Gregg Popovich‘s name doesn’t sit atop the list.

The longtime Spurs head coach had been on the sidelines in San Antonio for nearly three decades, having taken over coaching duties in December 1996. However, he gave way to assistant Mitch Johnson last November after suffering a stroke and then announced this spring that he had decided to end his coaching career at age 76.

Popovich retires from NBA coaching as the league’s all-time leader in regular season wins (1,390) and overall victories (1,560). He was also the oldest coach in league history and was the NBA’s longest-tenured coach by over a decade.

The shake-up at the top of our list starts with Popovich, but definitely doesn’t end there. In total, four of the NBA’s six longest-tenured head coaches have been replaced since we checked in last summer, with Michael Malone of the Nuggets (June 2015), Taylor Jenkins of the Grizzlies (June 2019), and Tom Thibodeau of the Knicks (July 2020) having been dismissed by their respective teams in recent months.

While the total number of coaching changes in the past year – six – isn’t abnormally high, it’s unusual for us to be removing so many names at the top of our list.

With all that in mind, here’s the current breakdown of the NBA’s longest-tenured head coaches by team:

  1. Erik Spoelstra, Heat: April 2008
  2. Steve Kerr, Warriors: May 2014
  3. Billy Donovan, Bulls: September 2020
  4. Tyronn Lue, Clippers: October 2020
  5. Mark Daigneault, Thunder: November 2020
  6. Chris Finch, Timberwolves: February 2021
  7. Rick Carlisle, Pacers: June 24, 2021
  8. Chauncey Billups, Trail Blazers: June 27, 2021
  9. Jason Kidd, Mavericks: June 28, 2021
  10. Jamahl Mosley, Magic: July 11, 2021
  11. Willie Green, Pelicans: July 22, 2021
  12. Will Hardy, Jazz: June 2022
  13. Joe Mazzulla, Celtics: September 2022
    • Mazzulla became the Celtics’ interim head coach in September 2022 and was named the permanent head coach in February 2023.
  14. Quin Snyder, Hawks: February 2023
  15. Ime Udoka, Rockets: April 2023
  16. Nick Nurse, Sixers: June 1, 2023
  17. Darko Rajakovic, Raptors: June 13, 2023
  18. Brian Keefe, Wizards: January 25, 2024
    • Keefe became the Wizards’ interim head coach in January 2024 and was named the permanent head coach in May 2024.
  19. Doc Rivers, Bucks: January 26, 2024
  20. Jordi Fernandez, Nets: April 2024
  21. Charles Lee, Hornets: May 2024
  22. J.J. Redick, Lakers: June 24, 2024
  23. Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers: June 28, 2024
  24. J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons: July 2024
  25. Mitch Johnson, Spurs: November 2024
    • Johnson took over as the Spurs’ acting head coach in November 2024 after Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke; he was named the permanent head coach in May 2025 when Popovich stepped down from the position.
  26. Doug Christie, Kings: December 2024
    • Christie became the Kings’ interim head coach in December 2024 and was named the permanent head coach in May 2025.
  27. Tuomas Iisalo, Grizzlies: March 2025
    • Iisalo became the Grizzlies’ interim head coach in March 2025 and was named the permanent head coach in May 2025.
  28. David Adelman, Nuggets: April 2025
    • Adelman became the Nuggets’ interim head coach in April 2025 and was named the permanent head coach in May 2025.
  29. Jordan Ott, Suns: June 2025
  30. Mike Brown, Knicks: July 2025

Spoelstra is the new name at the top of the list of longest-tenured coaches, with a comfortable six-year margin between him and second-place Kerr. Incredibly, the gap of six-plus years between Kerr and third-place Donovan is larger than five-year gap between Donovan and Brown, the head coach most recently hired.

In other words, Spoelstra and Kerr are now the only coaches in the NBA who have been with their respective teams for longer than five years, which is a testament to just how difficult it is for a head coach to stick in one place.

7 comments Hoops Rumors Originals

Longest-Tenured NBA Players By Team

By | at September 2, 2025 2:59 pm

Since we last checked in on the NBA’s longest-tenured players by team one year ago, a handful of names who were in the top 10 have changed teams either via trade or free agency.

That group includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Myles Turner, who had been with the Timberwolves and Pacers, respectively, since the 2015 draft. De’Aaron Fox is among the other longtime members of a franchise to change teams since last summer, having been dealt from the Kings to the Spurs in February after having played in Sacramento since 2017.

In addition to Minnesota, Indiana, and Sacramento, teams with a new longest-tenured player include the Bulls, Trail Blazers, Raptors, and Jazz, who have parted ways with Zach LaVine, Anfernee Simons, Chris Boucher, and Jordan Clarkson within the past year.

The top name on our list remains unchanged, as Stephen Curry – a member of the Warriors since 2009 – is still the player who has been with his current club for the longest period. He’s entering his 17th season with Golden State this fall.

Because our list includes just one player per team, Draymond Green doesn’t show up in the space below, but if we were simply listing the players who have been with their current clubs the longest, he’d own the No. 2 spot behind Curry, having been with the Warriors since being drafted in 2012. Jamal Murray (a Nugget since June 2016) is another player who would place highly on that version of the list.

Finally, it’s worth noting that a player like Damian Lillard – who was with Portland from 2012-23, spent two years in Milwaukee, then rejoined the Trail Blazers this summer as a free agent – won’t show up on this list, since he has spent time with another team since first becoming a Blazer since 2012. In our view, his tenure with the Blazers reset during his time with the Bucks and restarted this offseason.

Here’s each team’s longest-tenured player, along with how he was acquired:

(Note: This is a snapshot as of September 2, 2025 and won’t be updated throughout the season. Because this list only features each team’s longest-tenured player, one player per team is listed.)

  1. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (draft), June 2009
  2. Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo (draft), June 2013
  3. Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid (draft), June 2014
  4. Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (draft), June 2014
  5. Dallas Mavericks: Dwight Powell (trade), December 2014
  6. Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (draft), June 2015
  7. Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown (draft), June 2016
  8. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac (draft), June 2017
  9. Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo (draft), June 2017
  10. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. (draft), June 2018
  11. Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young (draft trade), June 2018
  12. Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges (draft trade), June 2018 (*)
  13. New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson (draft), June 2018
  14. Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James (free agent), July 2018
  15. Los Angeles Clippers: Ivica Zubac (trade), February 2019
  16. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (draft), June 2019
  17. Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland (draft), June 2019
  18. Brooklyn Nets: Nic Claxton (draft), June 2019
  19. Chicago Bulls: Coby White (draft), June 2019
  20. San Antonio Spurs: Keldon Johnson (draft), June 2019
  21. Minnesota Timberwolves: Naz Reid (free agent), July 2019
  22. Oklahoma City Thunder: Luguentz Dort (free agent), July 2019
  23. Indiana Pacers: T.J. McConnell (free agent), July 2019
  24. Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart (draft trade), November 2020
  25. Houston Rockets: Jae’Sean Tate (free agent), November 2020
  26. Washington Wizards: Anthony Gill (free agent), November 2020
  27. Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes (draft), July 2021
  28. Sacramento Kings: Domantas Sabonis (trade), February 2022
  29. Portland Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (draft), June 2022
  30. Utah Jazz: Walker Kessler (trade), July 2022

* Note: Bridges was a free agent for the entire 2022/23 season, but the Hornets retained his RFA rights during that time and brought him back for the following season, extending his tenure with the team. If we don’t count Bridges, Charlotte’s longest-tenured player is LaMelo Ball, who was selected in the 2020 draft.

While it’s a safe bet that many players on this list – especially a few near the top – will remain the same when we check in again during the summer of 2026, it’s a lock we’ll see some changes too. Powell (Mavericks), Young (Hawks), Robinson (Knicks), White (Bulls), and – of course – James (Lakers) are among the players on this list who can reach free agency next summer.

Which players do you expect to change teams and come off this list in the next 12 months?

5 comments Hoops Rumors Originals
Show all
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors