Samwise NBA Newsletter
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Memphis Trades Ja Morant to Portland Trail Blazers in Blockbuster Deal
The Memphis Grizzlies traded two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday for forward Jerami Grant and rookie-scale forward Kris Murray. Morant, selected No. 2 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Murray State, played just 20 games last season due to calf and ankle injuries. He has two years and approximately $82 million remaining on his rookie extension. In Portland, Morant is expected to start alongside Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija, giving the Trail Blazers a formidable three-man core in the Western Conference. Grant averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for Portland last season.
Sources: ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
LeBron James Enters Free Agency for First Time Since 2018 as Warriors and Lakers Compete
LeBron James headlines the 2026 NBA free agency class as teams became eligible to negotiate with players at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday. The 41-year-old James is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018. The Los Angeles Lakers, who are building around Luka Doncic, have not held contract talks with James, per reports. The Golden State Warriors are targeting James using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception as part of a broader effort that also includes pursuing Anthony Davis via trade from the Washington Wizards. The Lakers’ first major move of the offseason was re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $184 million contract.
Sources: Yahoo Sports ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Draymond Green Declines $27.7 Million Option, Giving Warriors Flexibility for Superteam Pursuit
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season Monday morning, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, freeing financial flexibility for the franchise’s pursuit of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The 36-year-old is expected to re-sign with Golden State on a new multi-year deal at a lower annual salary, allowing the Warriors to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to target James in free agency. Golden State is also pursuing Davis via trade from the Washington Wizards. Earlier this offseason, the Warriors signed Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million contract.
Sources: ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
James Harden Declines $42.3 Million Option With Cavaliers, Expected to Re-Sign on New Deal
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, with both sides immediately beginning negotiations on a new multi-year contract. The 36-year-old became an unrestricted free agent by opting out, though re-signing with Cleveland is widely expected. Declining the option allows both parties to restructure the deal at a lower annual salary spread across additional seasons, a more cap-friendly arrangement for the Cavaliers. The expectation is that Harden will agree to approximately two years at $30 million annually. The new deal will likely result in Harden making more money over multiple years despite the decreased annual salary.
Sources: ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Hornets Ship Miles Bridges to Suns in Latest Charlotte Roster Overhaul
The Charlotte Hornets traded 28-year-old forward Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for guard Grayson Allen, forward Royce O’Neale and a future first-round pick, per an Associated Press source. Charlotte also sent a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick to Phoenix. Bridges averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists on 46 percent shooting across 77 games this season and spent all seven years of his career with Charlotte. Phoenix gains approximately $20 million in luxury tax savings while opening a roster spot entering free agency. The move continues Charlotte’s roster overhaul following its earlier trade of All-Star guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota.
Sources: NBA.com Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Clippers and Raptors in Active Trade Talks for Kawhi Leonard as Mavericks Circle
The Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have been in trade discussions for All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard for several weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Leonard, who has one year remaining on his contract at $50.3 million, informed other teams through his representatives that he would only sign an extension if the Clippers declined to keep him, sources said. The Clippers, who chose not to make a long-term commitment to Leonard this offseason, are also engaged in separate discussions with the Dallas Mavericks. The Raptors would prefer to include Brandon Ingram rather than RJ Barrett in any deal, with Ingram averaging 21.2 points per game last season.
Sources: ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Celtics Actively Shopping Jaylen Brown as Trade Framework Emerges With Trail Blazers
The Boston Celtics remain actively engaged in trade discussions to move All-Star forward Jaylen Brown, with a trade framework involving the Portland Trail Blazers emerging in the wake of Portland’s blockbuster deal for Ja Morant, per Yahoo Sports. The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets are also among the teams that have registered interest. Brown has three years and $183 million remaining on the supermax extension he signed in 2023. The Celtics have asked for at least four first-round picks in return. One league executive told ESPN the Clippers want Brown badly. Brown has not requested a trade from Boston.
Sources: Yahoo Sports ESPN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
NBA Free Agency Opens at 6 p.m. ET With Historic Class Headlined by LeBron James
Teams became eligible to negotiate directly with free agents Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, marking the official start of an NBA offseason that includes LeBron James entering free agency as an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018. The league’s moratorium ends July 6, at which point all verbal agreements made during the negotiating window can be officially consummated. Among the top players available are Draymond Green and James Harden, both of whom declined player options Monday to become unrestricted free agents. Austin Reaves agreed to a four-year, $184 million deal to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of Tuesday’s negotiating period opening.
Sources: Yahoo Sports Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
2025–26 NBA Playoffs — Final Results
Eastern Conference
🏆 NBA Champion: New York Knicks
NBA Finals: Knicks def. Spurs 4–1
Finals Scores:
G1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95
G2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104
G3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111
G4: Knicks 107, Spurs 106
G5: Knicks 94, Spurs 90
Finals MVP: Jalen Brunson
Western Conference
WCF: Spurs def. Thunder 4–3
Conf. Semifinals:
Spurs def. Timberwolves 4–2
Thunder def. Lakers 4–0
First Round:
Spurs def. Trail Blazers 4–1
Thunder def. Suns 4–0
Lakers def. Rockets 4–2
Timberwolves def. Nuggets 4–2
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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