Basketball Wiretap

Dean Wade and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a four-year, $39 million deal. The Sixers are using the non-taxpayer midlevel exception to sign Wade and will be hard capped at the first apron. 

Wade entered the NBA on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2019-20 season. Wade is coming off a three-year, $18.5 million extension signed with the Cavaliers ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Last season, Wade averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes.

Wade is represented by Adam Papas and Austin Walton.

The Sixers hired Mike Gansey away from the Cavaliers as as president of basketball operations this offseason and his first free agent acquisition becomes a player he is familiar with in Wade.

Zach Collins and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract. Collins is represented by Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller. 

Collins appeared in just 10 games last season due to a left wrist fracture and a sprained toe. 

Collins averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 18.4 minutes.

Luke Kennard and the Phoenix Suns have agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal.

Kennard finished the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers following his trade from the Atlanta Hawks. 

In 32 regular season games with the Lakers, Kennard averaged 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 44.8 percent on three-pointers.

In 10 playoff games, Kennard averaged 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 47.4 percent on three-pointers.

The Suns have already had an active offseason with agreements for Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin, along with a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Miles Bridges.

Kennard is repressed by Aaron Mintz, Steven Heumann and Dave Spahn.

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to eventually secure free agent agreements with Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes. The Lakers are also still pursuing Walker Kessler as their top target this offseason as they look to upgrade the center position.

Kessler is a restricted free agent and would either need to reach agreement with the Utah Jazz on a sign-and-trade, or risk signing him to an offer sheet that can be matched. Kessler is represented by Aaron Mintz, Houston Kessler and Dave Spahn.

The Jazz have been expected to try to retain Kessler this offseason.

Mamukelashvili is receiving considerable interest on the open market and has been expected to command more than $10 million per season. Mamukelashvili averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes over 80 games in his one season with the Toronto Raptors. Mamukelashvili is represented by George Roussakis.

Grimes averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29.4 minutes with the Philadelphia 76ers over 75 games. Grimes played the season on a one-year qualifying offer after being unable to secure a longer deal as a restricted free agent. Grimes is represented by Austin Brown and Steven Heumann. 

Keon Ellis and the Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with a mutual option for Year 2. If either side exercises the option, then Ellis will be under contract for the 2027-28 season. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Ellis at the trade deadline from the Sacramento Kings. In 72 games with the Cavaliers and Kings last season, Ellis averaged 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes.

Ellis went undrafted in 2022 out of Alabama and was immediately signed to a two-way contract by the Kings.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Miami Heat have reached agreement on a one-year, $6.5 million deal at the tax midlevel exception.

Hardaway spent last season with the Denver Nuggets and averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.6 minutes across 80 games while shooting 40.7 percent on three-pointers.

Hardaway will join a Miami team that just acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and will need his floor spacing.

Ousmane Dieng and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a three-year, $17.5 million deal. The Bucks acquired Dieng from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline.

Dieng, who was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 26.8 minutes across 30 games for the Bucks. Dieng figures to continue to have a big role with the Bucks as they rebuild out of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era.

Dieng is represented by Michael Tellem and Marius Rutkauskas. 

On ESPN's free agency special, Brian Windhorst floated the possibility of the Cleveland Cavaliers trading for Jaylen Brown and then signing LeBron James in free agency.

Windhorst has suggested that James' free agency decision could be influenced by the types of moves his suitors make this offseason.

The Boston Celtics have been engaged in trade talks involving Brown and could have interest in a trade with the Cavaliers for Evan Mobley. The Celtics would like to add more size to their team and Mobley would give them an All-NBA caliber player back in return for Brown.

"That's the type of move you're going to do to get LeBron James' attention," said Windhorst.

Earlier on Tuesday during an appearance on ESPN Cleveland, Windhorst said the Cavaliers were working on a trade that he didn't want to disclose at that time.

"They are working on trades, I'm not going to tell you who they're working on because I can't deal with it in my life," said Windhorst.

The Detroit Pistons have increased their offer to Jalen Duren in restricted free agency to what they believe is the most lucrative contract possible for him.

The Pistons are not interested in participating in any sign-and-trade offers for Duren and would plan on matching any offer sheet he might sign with a rival team.

Duren lined up free agent meetings with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers.

Branden Carlson and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.

Carlson spent the past season on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 42 games, Carlson averaged 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.6 minutes.

Carlson, 7'0, went undrafted out of Utah in 2024.