Samwise NBA Newsletter
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Mitchell agrees to $273M max extension, commits long-term to Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell chose loyalty over a larger payday Monday, agreeing to a four-year, $273 million maximum extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers that includes a player option for the 2030–31 season and a full trade kicker, his agent confirmed to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Mitchell, 29, could have waited until next summer for a five-year, $353 million deal but instead committed on the first day he was eligible. A seven-time All-Star who has averaged 26.7 points and 5.3 assists in his four Cavaliers seasons, Mitchell led Cleveland to its first Eastern Conference finals before falling to the eventual champion New York Knicks in four games.
NBA Finals MVP Brunson undergoes left wrist surgery after playing through injury in title run
Jalen Brunson underwent surgery Tuesday on his left wrist — an injury he played through during the New York Knicks’ championship run — with a return expected later this summer, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The NBA Finals MVP powered New York to its first title since 1973, averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists and 2.0 steals in five Finals games against San Antonio. Brunson set a franchise playoff record with 45 points in the Game 5 closeout, accounting for 48 percent of the Knicks’ points that night. He averaged 28.4 points in the postseason as New York posted a 16-3 record.
Kyle Lowry retires as a Toronto Raptor, capping a 20-season NBA career
Kyle Lowry retired Monday as a Toronto Raptor, capping a 20-year NBA career by signing a one-day ceremonial contract — a deliberate gesture from the 40-year-old who wore No. 7 in Toronto and chose 7/7 as the date. One of 12 players in league history to play 20 seasons, Lowry was a six-time All-Star and a 2019 champion with the Raptors. He appeared in 1,187 regular-season games and made 2,209 three-pointers, 14th all-time. ‘This was home,’ Lowry said at the ceremony. ‘Home is a feeling.’ The Philadelphia native was also announced as a Prime Video analyst.
Lakers in active pursuit of Kuminga but face cap constraints after free agency spending
The Los Angeles Lakers continued their courtship of Jonathan Kuminga on Tuesday, with the unrestricted free agent still unsettled a day after the moratorium lifted, according to ESPN. The Hawks declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million option on June 29, and the Lakers met virtually with the former Golden State forward on June 30, pitching a high-minutes wing role alongside Luka Doncic. But after committing cap space to Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, Los Angeles has limited financial flexibility. Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, believes better deals remain available. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who share a connection through coach Kenny Atkinson, are also engaged.
Middleton returns to Washington via six-team sign-and-trade after half-season in Dallas
Veteran forward Khris Middleton is returning to Washington in a six-team sign-and-trade agreement, according to ESPN. Middleton, 34, will sign a three-year, $17.6 million deal with the Wizards — his second stint in Washington — after moving from Washington to Dallas at the February deadline as part of the Anthony Davis trade. The deal involves six teams: the Mavericks, Wizards, Clippers, Pistons, Bucks and Grizzlies, with D’Angelo Russell heading to Memphis among multiple players moving. Middleton averaged 10.2 points in 63 games last season and is a three-time All-Star who co-starred with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Milwaukee’s 2021 championship team.
Pistons deal LeVert and two picks to Bucks for Prince and Harris in cap-clearing move
The Detroit Pistons have agreed to trade Caris LeVert and two second-round picks to the Milwaukee Bucks for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, according to ESPN. The swap creates a trade exception for Detroit and generates cap savings, with all three players on expiring contracts. LeVert, who signed a two-year, $29 million deal last offseason, averaged 7.4 points on 41.7-percent shooting in 60 games for the Pistons. Prince brings an elite spot-up shooting profile, converting at better than 43 percent from three over the past two seasons. The transaction is part of the six-team sign-and-trade that returns Khris Middleton to Washington.
Tatum calls Brown partnership ‘super successful’ in first public comments since trade
Jayson Tatum spoke publicly for the first time about Jaylen Brown’s departure Tuesday night, offering a measured farewell to his nine-year running mate at a Q&A event for an upcoming book. ‘It came to an abrupt ending, but it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t super successful,’ Tatum said. ‘Great years, obviously, that he gave to the city and to the organization.’ Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Tatum said he was prepared to embrace the Celtics’ new additions — George, Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson — and ‘move forward with them.’
Warriors decline to match Grizzlies offer sheet, losing Post as restricted free agent
The Golden State Warriors will not match the Memphis Grizzlies’ three-year, $30 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Quinten Post, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, making this the first restricted free agent lost to an offer sheet since Bogdan Bogdanovic signed with Atlanta in 2020. Golden State brought back Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis this offseason, leaving Post buried on the depth chart. Only the first year of Post’s deal with Memphis is fully guaranteed at $9 million; the Grizzlies added unlikely incentives that made the second-apron math unattractive for the Warriors. Post shot 41 percent from three-point range in 42 games during his rookie season.
2026 NBA Season — Final Results
NBA Champions
New York Knicks (first title since 1973)
Finals MVP
Jalen Brunson — 32.6 PPG, 4.6 APG
NBA Finals Result
Knicks def. Spurs, 4–1
Now: NBA Free Agency
Moratorium lifted July 6 — deals now official
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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