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.
Tightening luxury tax apron restrictions under the 2023 collective bargaining agreement are expected to produce a more cautious free-agency period across the NBA this summer, with teams showing increased restraint heading into what is already a complex market. Sign-and-trades and player options are projected to drive most roster movement rather than traditional cap-space signings.
The 2026 free-agent class features a mix of high-leverage player options, young restricted free agents seeking major paydays, and proven veteran role players. Star guards Trae Young of the Washington Wizards and James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers both hold sizable player options and are expected to opt out in pursuit of longer-term deals with their incumbent teams.
Austin Reaves headlines the unrestricted free-agent market. LeBron James, Norman Powell, CJ McCollum, and Mitchell Robinson round out the notables from the unrestricted group, while restricted free agents Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler figure to draw significant outside interest.
Cap-space teams may attempt to leverage restricted free agency to force rivals into difficult financial decisions.
For teams operating near the luxury tax, the mid-level exception remains the primary tool for adding proven talent. Guards Ayo Dosunmu and Quentin Grimes and frontcourt players Kristaps Porzingis and Rui Hachimura are among the targets expected to draw strong mid-level interest.
The Los Angeles Lakers are widely expected to re-sign Austin Reaves this offseason and internally dismiss concerns about fielding him alongside Luka Doncic on the defensive end, according to league sources. Lakers president Rob Pelinka publicly expressed confidence a deal will get done before free agency opens June 30.
"He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker," said Pelinka. "There's rules and timing to all of that, but I think both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out where he continues his prolific career here."
One team source told ESPN that defensive concerns about a Doncic-Reaves backcourt pairing are overstated, provided the Lakers address its wing and frontcourt needs elsewhere. Reaves is also regarded internally as one of the locker room's most important voices.
The Lakers view Reaves as a natural fit alongside Doncic as a secondary playmaker capable of creating off the ball and generating his own shot. His cap hold sits at $20.9 million, giving Los Angeles flexibility to conduct other offseason business before formally signing him.
Rival executives project Reaves' new deal to exceed $40 million annually, with the Brooklyn Nets expected to offer four years and $178.5 million.
"You can't let a talent like that walk," said one Western Conference executive. "That would be a disaster."
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