NBA Basketball Wiretap

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.

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. 

The Los Angeles Lakers are widely expected to re-sign guard Austin Reaves this offseason. Reaves has a $14.9 million player option that he's going to decline to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

Recent reports have surfaced that the Brooklyn Nets, one of the teams expected to have cap space this offseason, are likely to make a run at Reaves. Despite the fact that Reaves is unrestricted and the Lakers can't officially match offers, Reaves' camp is likely to give Los Angeles a chance to match or beat any offers he receives.

Should the Lakers reach an agreement with Reaves on a new contract, they'll delay signing him to complete their other offseason moves. If Los Angeles goes the cap space route, they could create nearly $50 million in space. They'd use that cap room first, while retaining Reaves' cap hold and Bird rights, then re-sign the combo guard to his new deal.

Cleveland Cavaliers two-way wing Riley Minix is reportedly close to signing with ASVEL in France. Minix is technically under contract with the Cavs though next season on a two-way contract, but Cleveland is likely open to release Minix to pursue opportunities overseas.

Minix has only played limited minutes in two NBA seasons with the Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs. In two G League seasons, the 6-foot-7 wing has stood out. Minix has averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals across 54 total G League games. He's also put up 52/42/82 shooting splits during that time.