Basketball Wiretap

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have agreed to a five-year, $252 million rookie scale contract extension with a player option for Year 5.

The extension is at 25 percent of the salary cap instead of opting to be eligible for a 30 percent extension worth $303 million over the same five-year period. Even if Wembanyama qualifies for the escalator by making an All-NBA team or winning Defensive Player of the Year, he has given up the opportunity for the higher value contract.

By comparison, Wembanyama will earn $43.5 million in the first season of his contract compared to $52.2 million had he signed for the 30 percent max. 

Wembanyama and the Spurs worked closely together on various scenarios with this one giving the front office more flexibility to build a sustainable roster around him.

San Antonio will have critical extension discussions with Stephon Castle in 2027 and with Dylan Harper in 2028 with Wembanyama establishing a precedent within the franchise.

The Spurs offered Wembanyama the opportunity to sign for the full 30 percent max. 

Jalen Brunson similarly signed a reduced contract with the New York Knicks that has helped them maintain their supporting cast around him.

Wembanyama appeared in 64 regular season games last season, averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.1 blocks with a PER of 29.4. Wembanyama finished third in MVP voting and unanimously won Defensive Player of the Year. 

Wembanyama went on to lead the Spurs to the NBA Finals. During the playoffs, Wembanyama averaged 23.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.5 blocks with a PER of 27.4. 

Wembanyama is represented by Bouna Ndiaye. 

Bam Adebayo struck Tyler Herro during a physical altercation in Las Vegas on Friday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The incident occurred at a gym inside Resorts World Casino in front of an AAU team run by Herro.

Multiple sources who witnessed the incident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Adebayo walked onto the court and Herro said something to him. Adebayo then approached Herro and punched him without hesitation. Herro's AAU coach confronted Adebayo, and Herro yelled at his former teammate while being escorted out by security. Both players left the scene separately.

A Las Vegas Police Department spokesperson said officers were not called to the scene. The Heat told The Athletic they were aware of the incident but declined further comment. A Milwaukee Bucks spokesperson said the organization was aware, though coaching staff members said they had not heard about it. Team officials on both sides declined to comment further.

The altercation came hours before Miami and Milwaukee faced off in NBA Summer League action at the Thomas & Mack Center, with the Heat winning 119-86. Herro attended the game, sitting with new teammates Ryan Rollins, Ousmane Dieng, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware, all of whom joined Milwaukee in this week's trade. Adebayo did not attend the game.

In an interview during the game's broadcast on Prime, which took place before news of the altercation emerged, Herro spoke positively about his former team.

"It's all love. It's all love in Miami," said Herro. "I've seen a couple of the guys, and the coaching staff. Chris Quinn, Spo, front office guys. We are all good in Miami and just the opportunity for both sides to reset, get a fresh start and we're both super happy for this."

Herro declined to comment on the altercation after the game. Herro and Adebayo played together in Miami for seven seasons before Herro was included in the package the Heat sent to the Bucks to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Following that trade, screenshots purportedly showing direct messages from an Instagram account linked to Herro circulated online, appearing to question Adebayo's game and his contract value with the Heat.

Bob Myers' appearance on Rich Paul's podcast to make a public pitch for the Philadelphia 76ers to sign LeBron James was scheduled before James' free agency began. Multiple league sources with direct knowledge of the situation said the same appearances are not expected from other teams pursuing James.

The 76ers' chief executive sat alongside Paul on the agent's "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman. Myers made the case directly for Philadelphia to land James.

"If (LeBron) was here, I'd say, 'I honestly believe this is your best chance to win,'" said Myers.

The appearance drew attention across league circles because such pitches are typically made privately.

"Awkward," said one executive of a potential James suitor, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss Paul's show freely.

Another league source offered a different view of the strategy.

"The podcast is a brilliant idea by them because it regains a narrative for them they may have lost," said the source, who also spoke anonymously.

Sources ruled out speculation that Paul is staging a rotating series of executive appearances leading to a final announcement. Brandon Weems, a Cleveland Cavaliers front office staffer and childhood friend of James, remains the only known team executive with direct contact with James this offseason.

Teams cited by Paul as contenders, including the Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, said they remained without information on James' plans as of Thursday.

"We really don't know, we just know what we read," said one executive of a potential suitor.

James can no longer pursue a sign-and-trade after the Los Angeles Lakers renounced his rights. His next contract will be limited to the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, the taxpayer midlevel exception or the veteran's minimum.

The Atlanta Hawks have emerged with interest in a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets for restricted free agent Peyton Watson. The Nuggets have signaled they intend to match any offer sheet for Watson, but they would be open to discussing sign-and-trade scenarios.

However, the Nuggets are maintaining an asking price similar to what the Los Angeles Lakers sent to the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler for two unprotected first round picks and two pick swaps.

The price point the Nuggets have set for Watson has been prohibitive for both the Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers at this point. The Clippers remain interested in Watson at a contract in the $25 million-plus range he and agent Rich Paul are seeking.

The Brooklyn Nets have enough cap space to sign Watson to an offer sheet, but they are currently considering other pathways with that money.

Watson emerged as one of Denver's most productive players last season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 54 games. Following Nikola Jokic's knee injury in late December, Watson posted a career-best 17-game stretch before suffering a hamstring strain in February that limited him for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

Paul has had several restricted free agents go deep into the offseason before a resolution is reached such as Tristan Thompson and Eric Bledsoe.

With a lack of progress on acquiring Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets, there is a growing chance that the Los Angeles Clippers will pivot to focus on re-signing Bennedict Mathurin. Mathurin, like Peyton Watson, is a restricted free agent this offseason.

The Clippers acquired Mathurin from the Indiana Pacers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade.

Mathurin hasn't generated as much outside interest in his restricted free agency as Watson. Players in restricted free agency have to sign at least a three-year offer sheet with a rival team.

Mathurin appeared in 26 games with the Clippers to close the season, averaging 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 28.0 minutes.

The Clippers have remade their roster this year with trades of James Harden, Zubac and Kawhi Leonard. Mathurin would slot in on the wing between Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram while they also drafted Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick.

Mike Boynton Jr. has agreed to a two-year contract to become Michigan's next head men's basketball coach, the school announced Friday. Boynton had served as interim coach since Dusty May departed for the Dallas Mavericks last month.

"I'm grateful to athletic director Warde Manuel for his confidence and thankful for the opportunity to lead this program," said Boynton. "We have built a championship culture and a standard that everyone associated with this program takes great pride in. We have an outstanding group of players, and I'm excited to get to work and continue the success we've established together."

Boynton joined the Michigan staff shortly after May arrived in 2024, taking over as defensive coordinator and helping build the nation's top-ranked defense during the Wolverines' championship season.

"Mike is a veteran assistant with strong head coaching experience and a clear understanding of the standard we expect at Michigan," said athletic director Warde Manuel. "Over the past two seasons, he has been an invaluable member of our staff, bringing stability, leadership and perspective during an important period of success. Our players and staff believe in his vision, are committed to his leadership and are excited for the opportunity to pursue great success together this season."

Boynton successfully retained nearly the entire roster following May's departure. Guard Trey McKenney committed to staying hours after the coaching change, while Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau followed days later.

Transfers J.P. Estrella from Tennessee and Moustapha Thiam from Cincinnati also reaffirmed their commitments last week, and five-star recruit Brandon McCoy Jr. chose to remain on July 4. Guard L.J. Cason, who tore his right ACL in February and may miss the entire 2026-27 season, remains the only player who has not announced his plans.

Before joining Michigan's staff, Boynton spent seven seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State, leading the Cowboys to a 2021 NCAA tournament appearance behind future No. 1 draft pick Cade Cunningham. He has also worked as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin, South Carolina, Wofford and Coastal Carolina.

Michigan is currently ranked No. 5 in ESPN's latest Way-Too-Early Top 25.

The Atlanta Hawks declined their $24.3 million team option on Jonathan Kuminga for the 20226-27 season, but they are still expected to recoup some level of value with should he exit from the team via a sign-and-trade. Jake Fischer reports that a resolution will "almost certainly" be via a sign-and-trade rather than Kuminga signing outright into another team's salary cap space.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers are the two teams that have been most strongly linked with Kuminga. The Cavaliers' scenario would likely be dependent on LeBron James not signing with the franchise in the offseason. 

The Lakers are interested in including their final tradeable first round pick in 2032 along with Jarred Vanderbilt in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. The Hawks, however, have not considered taking back Vanderbilt in that type of scenario and he could be redirected to a third team. 

If the Lakers were able to find a workable path under that scenario, they could improve upon their two-year, $20 million initial offer to Kuminga.

Kuminga was on a $22.5 million contract last season after a prolonged restricted free agency process with the Golden State Warriors.

Victor Wembanyama is considering signing for less than his potential maximum rookie scale contract extension value with the San Antonio Spurs, reports Jake Fischer. Wembanyama can sign for at least 25 percent of the salary cap or up to 30 percent of the cap if he is either an All-NBA selection or Defensive Player of the Year award winner during the upcoming season.

Wembanyama could sign for less to give the Spurs additional flexibility to stay below the second apron while maintaining upcoming extensions for Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

"Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes🖤" wrote Wembanyama on Twitter on Friday.

Wembanyama could sign for up to $252 million over five years with an escalator worth more than $300 million over five years if he qualifies for the Rose rule max.

NBA superstars have rarely accepted meaningful discounts on their contracts, but the 2023 collective bargaining agreement added a punitive second apron system that has became a de facto hard salary cap for most teams.

The Portland Trail Blazers have claimed forward/center Micah Potter off waivers, shortly after he was waived by the Indiana Pacers.

Potter appeared in 47 games with seven starts for the Pacers during the 2025-26 season and averaged career highs of 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.3 minutes per game.

The forward shot 51.5 percent from the field last season, along with 42.3 percent from three-point range and 84.2 percent from the free throw line.

Over five NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and Pacers, Potter has appeared in 111 career games with 17 starts. He holds career averages of 6.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.0 minutes per game.

Potter's career shooting numbers stand at 49.0 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from three-point range and 84.0 percent from the free throw line.