NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Cleveland Cavaliers
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 Cleveland Cavaliers.
Free agent signings
Sam Merrill: Four years, $38,000,000. Re-signed using Bird rights.- Larry Nance Jr.: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Trades
- Acquired Lonzo Ball from the Bulls in exchange for Isaac Okoro.
Draft picks
- 2-49: Tyrese Proctor
- Signed to four-year, $8,685,386 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed ($500K). Fourth-year team option.
- 2-58: Saliou Niang
- Will play overseas.
Two-way signings
- Luke Travers
- One year, $85,300 partial guarantee (will increase to $318,218 at start of regular season).
Departed/unsigned free agents
- Emoni Bates (unsigned)
- Javonte Green (Pistons)
- Ty Jerome (Grizzlies)
- Chuma Okeke (Real Madrid)
- Tristan Thompson (unsigned)
Other roster moves
- None
Salary cap situation
- Operating over the cap ($154.6MM) and above the luxury tax line ($187.9MM).
- Carrying approximately $226.3MM in salary.
- No hard cap.
- One traded player exception frozen ($8,500,000).
- One traded player exception available ($1,000,000).
The offseason so far
When the Cavaliers fell to Indiana in the second round of the playoffs this spring, it was a gut punch for a couple reasons. First and foremost, it was an incredibly disappointing way to end what had been one of the best years in team history up until that point. Only the 2008/09 Cavs – propelled by an MVP season from an in-his-prime LeBron James – racked up more regular season victories than the 64 last season’s club won.
It was also a discouraging outcome because it happened right before the Cavs’ roster was set to get significantly more expensive. Cleveland managed to duck below the luxury tax line at February’s deadline, but even without re-signing any key free agents, the team’s salary for 2025/26 was set to enter second-apron territory.
After the Suns, Celtics, and Timberwolves got a first-hand look last season at the impact of operating in the second tax apron, those teams were all in the process of moving below that threshold this summer. Would the Cavs really be willing to go deeper into the second apron in order to re-sign guys who played key roles for the 2024/25 squad, such as Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill?
As it turns out, the answer was yes — to a point. The Cavs didn’t hesitate to negotiate a new multiyear deal with Merrill, who established himself as one of the club’s best shooters and whose defense has improved significantly since he entered the league. The two sides reached an agreement on a four-year, $38MM contract two days before the league-wide free agent period opened, keeping Merrill off the market.
While that contract is fully guaranteed, it’s only worth about 5.5% of the cap in year one and will remain in that neighborhood over the next four years. It’s a fair deal for a rotation player who figures to average 20-plus minutes per game and who won’t be played off the floor in the postseason — as a point of comparison, another Eastern Conference wing who plays a similar role, Boston’s Sam Hauser, will be paid $45MM over the same four-year period.
Although Cleveland made Merrill a priority, the front office didn’t do the same for Jerome, whose breakout year earned him a third-place finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
As good as Jerome was, he was exposed defensively in the playoffs, and the Cavs likely didn’t feel the need to invest heavily in another offense-first guard while already paying big bucks to Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland — especially since doing so would have cost them exponentially more in tax penalties. After agreeing to a three-year, $27.7MM deal with the Grizzlies, Jerome suggested in a social media post that he was “never presented with the option of returning” to Cleveland.
Like the decision to pass on Jerome, the other Cavaliers’ moves were made with financial considerations in mind. That includes their straight-up trade of Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball. Okoro ($11MM) will only earn slightly more in 2025/26 than Ball ($10MM), but Okoro’s contract is guaranteed through the 2026/27 season, while the Cavs will hold a team option for Ball in ’26/27, giving them some extra financial flexibility.
Of course, swapping a wing for a point guard also made sense from a roster construction standpoint after having re-signed Merrill and not Jerome.
Although Ball returned last season from a two-and-a-half-year injury absence related to recurring knee problems, he still wasn’t exactly a paragon of health, having appeared in just 35 games. If he can bump that number to at least 50-60 appearances in 2025/26, it would be a major boon for the Cavs, since Ball has a knack for making his team better even when his box-score numbers don’t look all that impressive.
The Cavs used one of their second-round picks to select former Duke guard Tyrese Proctor and sign him to a multiyear contract that starts at the rookie minimum. The gap between cap hits for a rookie minimum salary ($1,272,870) and a veteran minimum salary ($2,296,274) isn’t massive, but when a team is as deep into luxury tax territory as Cleveland is, the savings represent far more than that modest difference suggests.
Proctor spent three years with the Blue Devils and should be more NBA-ready than a one-and-done prospect, but he’s still just 21 years old and may not be prepared to contribute right away. That would probably be OK with the Cavs, who figure to focus on developing Proctor’s game in the hopes that he’ll be ready to take on a more regular rotation role in a year or two.
Finally, the Cavs added some much-needed frontcourt depth by reuniting with Larry Nance Jr. on a minimum-salary agreement. Nance, who was in Cleveland for three-and-a-half seasons from 2018-21, averaged 27.6 minutes per game during his first stint with the organization. This time around, he’ll likely be asked to play a more modest role behind big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but – as long as he’s healthy – he’ll be a solid insurance option up front in the event of an injury to either of those players.
Up next
Although injuries to Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) are expected to sideline them for the start of the regular season, the Cavs seem unlikely to carry a full 15-man roster due to luxury tax concerns. However, they’ll need to get to at least 14 players on standard contracts, which will require adding one more player at some point in the next month or two.
Despite being limited to minimum-salary offers for veteran free agents, the Cavs have no shortage of options for that 14th spot. If they want to add one more ball-handling guard for depth purposes due to health concerns about Garland and/or Ball, a player like Malcolm Brogdon or Cameron Payne would make sense.
With Strus expected to miss an extended period, one more wing would be a logical choice too — someone like Garrison Mathews, Landry Shamet, or Gary Payton II could fit that bill. Cleveland has also been linked to Malik Beasley, though he remains under investigation by the NBA, and it’s unclear if one of the league’s best sharpshooters will have to settle for the veteran’s minimum.
The Cavs could even target one more big man to further fortify their frontcourt behind Allen and Mobley, given that Nance is coming off a season-ending knee issue. Precious Achiuwa and Thomas Bryant are among the vets still out there.
Whichever direction they go, I’d like to see the Cavs use that spot on a player who can actually contribute rather than a locker-room leader who won’t see any action — with Garland and Strus already recovering from major injuries, Cleveland isn’t in position to throw away a valuable opportunity to add more playable depth.
The Cavaliers also have one open two-way slot to fill alongside Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Luke Travers. The path they take with their standard roster spot could dictate what position they want to address with that final two-way opening.
Finally, it’s worth noting that several key Cleveland players – Garland, Strus De’Andre Hunter, and Dean Wade – will be eligible for extensions during the preseason. However, Garland, Strus, and Hunter all have multiple guaranteed years left on their current contracts and Wade has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate in the event that the Cavs want to try to reduce their tax bill.
I’d be a little surprised if any of those four players signs an extension before the regular season begins, given Cleveland’s cap situation. The team, which is carrying the NBA’s most expensive roster in 2025/26, probably isn’t eager to lock in more long-term money earlier than it needs to.
NBA’s Top 50 Highest-Paid Players For 2025/26
Many of the NBA’s highest-paid players are on contracts considered maximum-salary deals, but the 2025/26 salaries for those players vary significantly depending on when the player signed his contract and how much NBA experience he has. That’s why a player like Stephen Curry will earn nearly $22MM more than LaMelo Ball in ’25/26 despite both players technically being on max deals.
When a player signs a maximum-salary contract, he doesn’t necessarily earn the NBA max for each season of that contract — he earns the max in year one, then gets a series of identical annual raises. In Curry’s case, his 2025/26 salary actually exceeds this year’s maximum, since the annual cap increases since he began earning the max haven’t kept pace with his annual 8% raises.
Listed below are the top 50 highest-paid NBA players for the 2025/26 season. The players on this list don’t necessarily have the contracts with the largest overall value. This top 50 only considers the current league year, with the player’s ’25/26 base salary listed.
Additionally, we’ve noted players who could potentially increase their earnings via incentives or trade bonuses. We didn’t add those notes for players like Curry or Anthony Edwards, who have trade bonuses but are already earning their maximum — their salaries for this season can’t increase beyond their max.
Here are the NBA’s 50 highest-paid players for the 2025/26 season:
- Stephen Curry, Warriors: $59,606,817
- Joel Embiid, Sixers: $55,224,526
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: $55,224,526 - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: $54,126,450
Jimmy Butler, Warriors: $54,126,450
Anthony Davis, Mavericks: $54,126,450
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: $54,126,450 - Kevin Durant, Rockets: $53,282,608
- Durant can earn another $1,426,001 in likely incentives.
- Devin Booker, Suns: $53,142,264 (10% trade kicker)
Jaylen Brown, Celtics: $53,142,264
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: $53,142,264 - LeBron James, Lakers: $52,627,153 (15% trade kicker)
- Paul George, Sixers: $51,666,090 (15% trade kicker)
- Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: $50,000,000 (15% trade kicker)
- Zach LaVine, Kings: $47,499,660
- Cade Cunningham, Pistons: $46,394,100
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz: $46,394,100
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: $46,394,100
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: $46,394,100
Jamal Murray, Nuggets: $46,394,100 - Luka Doncic, Lakers: $45,999,660
Trae Young, Hawks: $45,999,660 (15% trade kicker) - Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: $45,550,512
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: $45,550,512
Pascal Siakam, Pacers: $45,550,512 - Domantas Sabonis, Kings: $42,336,000
- Sabonis can earn another $2,600,000 in unlikely incentives.
- OG Anunoby, Knicks: $39,568,966 (15% trade kicker)
- Darius Garland, Cavaliers: $39,446,090 (15% trade kicker)
Ja Morant, Grizzlies: $39,446,090 (15% trade kicker)
Zion Williamson, Pelicans: $39,446,090 - James Harden, Clippers: $39,182,693 (15% trade kicker)
- Scottie Barnes, Raptors: $38,661,750
Franz Wagner, Magic: $38,661,750 - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: $38,333,050 (15% trade kicker)
Michael Porter Jr., Nets: $38,333,050 - Brandon Ingram, Raptors: $38,095,238
- LaMelo Ball, Hornets: $37,958,760 (15% trade kicker)
Tyrese Maxey, Sixers: $37,958,760 - Bam Adebayo, Heat: $37,096,620
De’Aaron Fox, Spurs: $37,096,620 - Desmond Bane, Magic: $36,725,670
- Bane can earn another $1,233,090 in unlikely incentives.
- Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: $36,566,002 (15% trade kicker)
- Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: $35,000,000 (7.5% trade kicker)
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies: $35,000,000
Jalen Suggs, Magic: $35,000,000 - Jalen Brunson, Knicks: $34,944,001 (15% trade kicker)
- Alperen Sengun, Rockets: $33,944,954
- Jalen Green, Suns: $33,584,499
- Khris Middleton, Wizards: $33,296,296
- Middleton can earn another $3,222,221 in unlikely incentives.
- Immanuel Quickley, Raptors: $32,500,000
- Quickley can earn another $2,500,000 in unlikely incentives.
For the first time in NBA history, a base salary above $30MM is required to earn a spot on the league’s list of the top 50 highest-paid players, and even that isn’t quite enough for a few players. A pair of Trail Blazers veterans – Jrue Holiday at $32.4MM and Jerami Grant at $32MM – are the top two highest-paid players who didn’t make the cut.
It’s also worth noting that a small handful of players who just missed the top 50 have the ability to earn more than Quickley’s $32.5MM base salary if they achieve certain performance incentives during the coming season. Those players are as follows:
- Jordan Poole, Pelicans: $31,848,215
- Poole can earn another $3,750,000 in unlikely incentives.
- Tyler Herro, Heat: $31,000,000
- Herro can earn another $2,500,000 in unlikely incentives.
- Dejounte Murray, Pelicans: $26,783,568
- Murray earned an additional $4,017,535 for 2025/26 via a trade bonus on top of his base salary; he can also earn another $2,267,997 in unlikely incentives.
Players Currently Affected By Trade Restrictions
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:
- December 14: Steven Adams (Rockets)
- December 29: Jaylin Williams (Thunder)
- January 7: Jakob Poeltl (Raptors)
- January 10: Devin Booker (Suns)
- January 13: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
- January 14: Herbert Jones (Pelicans)
- February 1: Mikal Bridges (Knicks)
- February 2: Luka Doncic (Lakers)
- February 4: De’Aaron Fox (Spurs)
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:
- September 9
- Kelly Olynyk (Spurs)
- Malaki Branham (Wizards)
- September 13
- Dario Saric (Kings)
- Jonas Valanciunas (Nuggets)
- October 6
- Georges Niang (Jazz)
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.
Traded Second-Round Picks For 2026 NBA Draft
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:
- The Knicks’ second-round pick.
- The Timberwolves’ second-round pick.
- The Trail Blazers’ second-round pick.
- The Pelicans’ second-round pick.
The Knicks will receive the least favorable of the following picks:
- The Knicks’ second-round pick.
- The Timberwolves’ second-round pick.
The Spurs will receive the least favorable of the following picks:
- The Trail Blazers’ second-round pick.
- The Pelicans’ second-round pick.
The Wizards will receive the least favorable of the following picks:
- The most favorable of the Knicks’ and Timberwolves’ second-round picks.
- 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:
- The Clippers’ second-round pick.
- 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:
- The Spurs’ second-round pick.
- The least favorable of the Pacers’ and Heat’s second-round picks.
The Hawks will receive the least favorable of the following picks:
- The Celtics’ second-round pick.
- The most favorable of the Pacers’ and Heat’s second-round picks.
Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.
Community Shootaround: Breakout Candidates
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:
- Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers)
- Bennedict Mathurin (Pacers)
- Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)
- Sam Hauser (Celtics)
- Brandon Miller (Hornets)
- Jake LaRavia (Lakers)
- Terrence Shannon Jr. (Timberwolves)
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.
Hoops Rumors’ 2025 Offseason Check-In Series
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
NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Los Angeles Lakers
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
- Dorian Finney-Smith (Rockets)
- Alex Len (unsigned)
- Markieff Morris (unsigned)
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.
Community Shootaround: Future Hall Of Famers
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.
NBA Teams With Fewest Players On Guaranteed Contracts
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.
NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Detroit Pistons
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
- Daniss Jenkins
- Details TBD.
- Colby Jones
- Details TBD.
Note: The Pistons carried over Tolu Smith on a two-way contract from 2024/25.
Departed/unsigned free agents
- Malik Beasley (unsigned)
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (Nuggets)
- Dennis Schröder (Kings)
- Lindy Waters III (Spurs)
Other roster moves
- Waived Ron Harper Jr. (two-way contract).
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.