Samwise NBA Newsletter
Monday, July 13, 2026
LeBron James Sweepstakes Narrows to Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James, who informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will play elsewhere in 2026-27, has narrowed his free-agent destination to two teams — the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to multiple reports. Sources describe the race as “about 50/50.” The Warriors offer LeBron the chance to play alongside longtime rivals-turned-friends Stephen Curry and Draymond Green under coach Steve Kerr, who guided the trio to Olympic gold in 2024. Cleveland, James’s home state, would represent a reunion with Donovan Mitchell, who recently signed a four-year, $273 million max extension. The 41-year-old is targeting a 24th NBA season.
Sources: HoopsHype Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Kawhi Leonard’s Return to Toronto on Hold as NBA Probes Clippers’ Salary Cap Compliance
Kawhi Leonard’s agreed-upon trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors remains on hold while the NBA investigates whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through Leonard’s $28 million endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration, which simultaneously held a $300 million, 23-year deal with the team. The trade, agreed June 30, would send Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks and additional assets. The Clippers deny wrongdoing, saying they were “victims of a fraud” by Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg, who was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison. No timetable has been set for the investigation’s conclusion.
Sources: HoopsHype ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Victor Wembanyama Accepts $252 Million Over $303 Million to Help Spurs Build a Championship Roster
Victor Wembanyama has agreed to a five-year, $252 million rookie max extension with the San Antonio Spurs through the 2031-32 season, according to reports. The reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year chose the 25 percent maximum option over the 30 percent supermax — a roughly $50 million sacrifice — to preserve the Spurs’ financial flexibility to build a title contender around him. The deal includes a player option in the fifth year and is the third-largest rookie extension in NBA history, behind Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley, who each received five-year extensions worth $269 million with the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively.
Sources: HoopsHype ESPN Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
AJ Dybantsa Scores 27 in Summer League Debut, Tying Blake Griffin’s Las Vegas Opening-Game Record
Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa scored a game-high 27 points in his NBA Summer League debut, guiding Washington to a 92-88 win over the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas on July 9. Nineteen of those points came in the first half as Dybantsa — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — also grabbed seven rebounds, recorded two steals and one block in 26 minutes. The performance tied Blake Griffin’s mark for the most points ever scored by a No. 1 pick in a Las Vegas Summer League debut. Jazz second pick Darryn Peterson responded with 24 points in the top-two draft matchup.
Will Riley Pours In 32 Points as Washington Wizards Rout Sacramento Kings 105-84 in Las Vegas
Will Riley poured in 32 points on 9-for-14 shooting, including six three-pointers, as the Washington Wizards routed the Sacramento Kings 105-84 in Las Vegas Summer League play on July 12. Riley, a second-year guard who averaged 16.1 points over the final two months of the 2025-26 regular season, added six rebounds and three assists. Top 2026 pick AJ Dybantsa contributed 23 points, seven rebounds and three steals, maintaining his strong Summer League form after tying Blake Griffin’s debut record with 27 points in the Wizards’ opening-day win over the Utah Jazz.
Sources: NBA.com Yahoo Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
NBA Sets 2026-27 Salary Cap at $164.96 Million, Lower Than Projected Amid Media Revenue Shortfall
The NBA has officially set the 2026-27 salary cap at $164.961 million, a figure lower than originally projected due to a dip in media revenue, according to reports published July 9. The cap represents an increase from the $154.647 million ceiling set for 2025-26 but falls short of what teams had built offseason budgets around, with implications for free-agent spending across the league. The luxury tax threshold is $200.428 million, with the first and second tax aprons set at $209 million and $222 million respectively. The cap took effect July 1 as free agency opened for all 30 teams.
Sources: HoopsHype Yahoo Sports NBA.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Gary Trent Jr. Returns to Milwaukee on Four-Year, $64 Million Deal as Bucks Begin New Era
Guard Gary Trent Jr. has agreed to a four-year, $64 million deal to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to reports published July 11. Trent declined the player option on his previous two-year contract before reaching the new agreement, returning to Milwaukee where he has averaged 9.7 points on 41 percent shooting — including 39 percent from three-point range — over the past two seasons. The re-signing gives the Bucks a veteran presence as they transition into a new era following the trade of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakŭčionis, among others.
2025–26 NBA Playoffs — Final Results
Eastern Conference
First Round: Philadelphia 76ers def. Boston Celtics
Conference Finals: New York Knicks def. Cleveland Cavaliers 4–0
Western Conference
Semifinals: Oklahoma City Thunder def. Los Angeles Lakers 4–0
Conference Finals: San Antonio Spurs advanced to Finals
NBA Finals
New York Knicks def. San Antonio Spurs 4–1 — CHAMPIONS
Jalen Brunson: Finals MVP | First Knicks title since 1973
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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