Basketball Wiretap

The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with forward John Collins. Adding Collins gives the Pistons a veteran big man who can finish around the rim, as well as provide floor spacing for Cade Cunningham.

In 69 games with the LA Clippers last season, Collins averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game. The 28-year-old forward shot 55.2% from the field, including 40.6% on 3.2 three-point attempts per game.

Collins played the first six years of his NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks. He then spent two years with the Utah Jazz before playing for the Clippers last season.

Marcus Smart and the Houston Rockets have agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract. Smart had declined his $5.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers to become an unrestricted free agent.

Smart appeared in 62 games with the Lakers last season, averaging 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.5 minutes in a bounce back season.

Smart is represented by Jason Glushon and Josh Ketroser.

The signing will not hard cap the Rockets, which will improve their chances of re-signing Tari Eason as a restricted free agent.

The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers are finalizing a trade of Kawhi Leonard for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first round picks, one pick swap and two second rounders. The two first round picks are unprotected in 2031 and 2033 with the first round pick swap in 2027. The Raptors will send second round picks to the Clippers in 2030 and 2033.

Leonard led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship and then left the franchise to sign with the Clippers.

The Clippers had elected not to offer Leonard an extension this offseason, which led him to enter the trade market. Leonard signaled that the Raptors were the one team where he'd commit to a long-term extension.

Leonard is coming off one of his strongest individual campaigns, averaging 27.9 points across 65 regular-season games. He earned All-NBA second team honors and placed seventh in MVP voting. The Clippers, however, finished 42-40 and were eliminated in the play-in tournament.

Leonard will immediately become eligible to sign an extension worth up to $123.7 million over two seasons with Toronto.

The Raptors were able to retain RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley as part of the trade as their preference was to instead include Ingram. Ingram signed a three-year, $120 million extension in February 2025 shortly after his trade from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Raptors. Ingram has two seasons remaining on the contract.

After letting Paul George leave in free agency in 2024, the Clippers have now reset their roster by trading away James Harden, Ivica Zubac and now Leonard. The Clippers now have three incoming future first round picks as they also own the Indiana Pacers' 2029 first.

Leonard was open to a trade back to the Raptors due to his familiarity with the front office now led by Bobby Webster, his fondness for the city of Toronto, and his belief that they can contend within the Eastern Conference.

Leonard now envisions spending the remainder of his career with the Raptors.

Kristaps Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, but only $3 million is guaranteed for the second season in 2027-28. Porzingis is eligible to be traded immediately because it was an extension with no more than a five percent raise between Year 1 and Year 2. Porzingis also holds a player option for Year 2. 

The Warriors are active in the market as they pursue LeBron James in free agency. Golden State has also been linked with a trade for Anthony Davis.

Porzingis averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.7 minutes across 15 games with the Warriors. Porzingis shot just 31.1 percent on three-pointers with the Warriors.

Porzingis is represented by Jeff Schwartz and Janis Porzingis. 

The Houston Rockets signed Bogdan Bogdanovic to a one-year contract at the veteran's minimum, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN. Bogdanovic became a free agent after the Clippers declined their $16 million option on his contract.

The 33-year-old most recently played for the Clippers, averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds last season. Bogdanovic played in just 77 games over the past two seasons due to injuries.

Bogdanovic gives the Rockets a perimeter shooter with size that can also handle the ball on the wing.

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.

Jalen Duren had a productive meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday and is set to meet with the team again Wednesday morning as he pursues his restricted free agency market.

The Lakers told Duren in the meeting that they view him as a maximum-salary caliber player, sources said. The Sacramento Kings delivered a similar message of strong interest after also meeting with the 22-year-old center on Tuesday, indicating they will continue exploring sign-and-trade scenarios to acquire him.

Duren, a third-team All-NBA selection, has been exploring options outside the Detroit Pistons after finding the Pistons' offer underwhelming. The Pistons have signaled in recent days that they intend to match any offer sheet or decline to cooperate on a sign-and-trade. Detroit has specifically shown no interest in a sign-and-trade with Sacramento that would have sent Domantas Sabonis to the Pistons.

Duren had a breakout season as the Pistons finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but he struggled in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers and has contributed to the gap in his value with his incumbent franchise. 

The Lakers suddenly have significant salary-cap flexibility after LeBron James informed the team Tuesday that he will not return next season. That opens the door for Los Angeles to pursue Duren as a frontcourt complement to franchise centerpiece Luka Doncic for the long-term.

The Lakers are also in talks with Walker Kessler, who is also a restricted free agent center. 

Duren would also serve as a key building block for Sacramento, which selected Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh overall pick in this year's draft as it looks to reshape its roster core.

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. 

Grimes is also expected to sign with the Lakers on a contract that starts around $10 million in Year 1.