NBA Basketball Wiretap

Trae Young plans to decline his $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Washington Wizards and enter free agency Monday, sources told Andscape's Marc Spears Wednesday.

Washington remains the front-runner to retain the four-time All-Star, though multiple teams are expected to pursue him, sources said.

Young, who has averaged 9.8 assists over his eight-year career, was acquired by the Wizards from the Atlanta Hawks in January. The Wizards later acquired Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks. Washington envisions Young and Davis as an All-Star pairing capable of returning the franchise to playoff contention along with the top overall pick in the draft.

Young appeared in just five games for Washington after the trade, limited by a sprained right MCL sustained in the fifth game of last season. He averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 assists across 15 total appearances split between Atlanta and Washington.

The Hawks dealt Young after identifying Jalen Johnson as their cornerstone, receiving CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in return. Young had entered the season seeking to demonstrate his value for a four-year, $229 million maximum extension.

Washington also believes Young can accelerate the development of a young core that includes Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Bub Carrington. The Wizards have lost 64 or more games in each of the past three seasons.

Earlier this week, there were reports that Young could be a potential trade candidate  for the Miami Heat should they be unsuccessful in their attempts to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Young is represented by Aaron Mintz, Rayford Young, Austin Brown and Drew Morrison.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are believed to have opened up talks on a free agent contract and there is mutual interest in coming to terms on a deal. Teams were allowed to begin negotiating with their incumbent players as soon as the Finals ended on Saturday.

"I believe there have been negotiations back and forth between LeBron and the Lakers," said Brian Windhorst on ESPN Los Angeles. "There's two weeks left between now and the start of free agency. They have two weeks to work something out. And I believe they will work something out.

"I believe LeBron will come back to the Lakers and  they will have a deal that represents an equitable salary that will allow for a significant payout that gives the Lakers flexibility to add to the team.

"That amount may depend on what the Lakers might be able to do in free agency. It is possible there may be an impasse and LeBron would get to July 1st and not be happy with the Lakers and see what's elsewhere. I do not want to say that it's a done deal, but I think there is an intent from both sides to figure out how to continue this partnership."

James first joined the Lakers in 2018 and led the team to a championship in 2020 and the Western Conference Finals in 2023. 

After the Lakers' trade for Luka Doncic ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, the front office began clearly building around their younger superstar. During the 2025 offseason, it appeared as though James would eventually play elsewhere with a move possible by this coming offseason, but he now will more than likely remain with the Lakers.

"I am optimistic they will continue together," added James.

James has a $59.6 million cap hold this offseason and Windhorst added that he will make "vastly less" than that number for the 2026-27 season.

The Golden State Warriors are prepared to offer James their full non-taxpayer midlevel exception worth approximately $15 million when free agency opens.

The Lakers also have free agent decisions to make on Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.

Windhorst has added that James will be amenable to taking less money "if they come to him in partnership" on their offseason business. James offered to take less money in 2024 when the Lakers pursued the likes of Klay Thompson and Jonas Valanciunas. 

The Utah Jazz and guard Keyonte George are unlikely to agree on a rookie contract extension despite the franchise's confidence in his long-term future, sources told ESPN, with Utah's front office seeking further confirmation of his breakout 2025-26 campaign before committing to a maximum-level deal.

George, who struggled through his first two NBA seasons, averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game last season while posting a .609 true shooting percentage, a dramatic improvement in efficiency that repositioned him as a core piece of Utah's rebuilding effort.

While the Jazz remain open to extension discussions, the organization is not yet comfortable approaching the rookie extension maximum without seeing George sustain that level of production into next season.

As with restricted free agent center Walker Kessler, Utah's front office is willing to allow George to enter restricted free agency if the two sides cannot reach an agreement, giving the Jazz the right to match any outside offer he receives.

George's situation is further complicated by the upcoming NBA Draft, where the Jazz hold the No. 2 overall pick. Top prospect Darryn Peterson, projected as a shooting guard who could play point guard, shares the same agency as George. Utah's front office has maintained internally that the two can coexist on the court, pointing to playoff teams that successfully deploy multiple ball handlers simultaneously.

George is represented by Jason Ranne of The Team (formerly Wasserman).

Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz remain far apart on contract talks despite a five-year $140 million offer, sources told ESPN. The figure would represent the largest contract ever given to a center who had not yet earned an All-Star selection.

Kessler, 7-foot-2, established himself as one of the NBA's top shot blockers and rebounders before a shoulder injury limited him to five games last season. In 2024-25, he ranked second in the league in blocks (2.4) and fifth in rebounds (12.2) while averaging 11.1 points and shooting 66.3% from the floor. Utah holds the right to match any offer sheet Kessler signs as a restricted free agent.

Sources also expressed doubt that the Jazz will reach an agreement on a rookie extension with guard Keyonte George, despite the franchise's belief in his long-term role. George averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game in 2025-26 while posting a .609 true shooting percentage after two difficult early seasons. Utah's front office wants to see him build on that performance before committing to a figure near the rookie extension maximum.

As with Kessler, the Jazz are comfortable allowing George to enter restricted free agency if no extension is reached.

Utah also holds the No. 2 overall pick in next week's NBA Draft. Top prospect Darryn Peterson of Kansas is not planning to visit the Jazz, choosing instead to meet only with the Washington Wizards, who own the first pick. Fellow top prospect AJ Dybantsa of BYU has visited both organizations.

The Atlanta Hawks remain hopeful of re-signing CJ McCollum, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

McCollum, who was acquired from the Wizards, averaged 19.2 points in six playoff games.

Fischer adds that in addition to re-signing McCollum, the team is looking to add another downhill ballhandler to the roster. 

The Hawks have the No. 8 pick in the upcoming draft.

The Hawks are also looking to upgrade their center depth, leading many to speculate that the team could select Aday Mara.

The Phoenix Suns opened contract negotiations with Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, according to Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

Fischer adds that opposing teams are operating as if the Suns will re-sign both players.

Gillespie averaged 12.7 points and 4.6 assists last year, with Goodwin averaging 8.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves are working on a new deal for Ayo Dosunmu, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

The Wolves acquired Dosunmu from the Bulls at the trade deadline.

The guard averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 24 regular season games with the Wolves. 

Walker Kessler has grown unhappy with the front office of the Utah Jazz over the handling of his restricted free agency, league sources told Sam Amick of The Athletic.

Kessler, 24, was already frustrated after the Jazz declined to offer him an extension last summer. Sources say his discontent has deepened as Utah uses the restricted free agency process to limit his market, leaving him strongly considering a future elsewhere.

His options starting July 1 include signing an offer sheet with another team that Utah could match, pursuing a sign-and-trade, or accepting the qualifying offer of $14.6 million for one season as a path to unrestricted free agency next summer.

Kessler remains one of the most sought-after rim-protecting big men in the league despite a torn left labrum that limited him to five games last season. The Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks have all made significant pushes to acquire him in the past.

The Pacers pursued Kessler at the February trade deadline before pivoting to a deal for Ivica Zubac, which netted the Los Angeles Clippers two first-round picks, one second-rounder, Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson.

The Jazz already carry a combined $95 million commitment to big men Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for next season, which sources say is driving their caution around Kessler's contract.

The tension arrives at an awkward moment for Utah, which holds the No. 2 pick in next week's draft but has been unable to secure a workout with top prospect Darryn Peterson. The situation echoes last year, when Ace Bailey also declined a pre-draft visit before the Jazz selected him fifth overall.

Sources say Kessler had long expected to be a long-term piece of Utah's rebuild under owner Ryan Smith. One rival executive identified the Jazz, along with the champion New York Knicks, as among the few teams with enough frontcourt depth to counter San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama. Whether Kessler remains part of that equation is now uncertain.

The New York Knicks plan on making an offer to re-sign Mitchell Robinson in unrestricted free agency. Robinson will receive interest from rival teams, but he hasn't historically played in enough games or minutes to be considered a reliable starter at center.

Robinson is one of the NBA's best rebounders and gives the Knicks depth at center behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Knicks plan on going over the luxury tax line for the 2026-27 season.

Robinson was the 36th overall pick in the 2018 draft and the only player on the Knicks' roster that predates the Leon Rose and William Wesley front office.

Robinson is represented by Thaddeus Foucher and Joe Smith. 

The Detroit Pistons are looking to upgrade their team this summer through trades instead of free agency signings, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Restricted free agents Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson will be available for rookie scale contract extensions on July 6.

It was reported last month that Duren would be looking at deals around the $40 million per season range. 

The team have been linked with Trey Murphy III and Austin Reaves.