Basketball Wiretap

Both the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz are believed to remain genuinely undecided heading into the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, with sources telling The Athletic that neither franchise has locked in a selection at the top of the board.

Washington continues to consider BYU wing AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, but has devoted significant recent attention to studying Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. Sources caution against drawing conclusions from Peterson's absence from Utah's workout schedule, saying it does not reflect any prior commitment from the Wizards.

Washington lead executive Michael Winger has publicly stated that leadership ranks among the qualities he seeks in a No. 1 pick. Peterson is regarded by those close to him as an exceptionally driven worker, though his quiet, introverted nature has drawn scrutiny on the leadership front. Dybantsa, by contrast, is viewed by NBA sources as a more outgoing personality who demonstrates leadership both in the locker room and in the broader community.

At No. 2, the Jazz also have not settled on a direction. Utah's willingness to select a player who skips a pre-draft visit is established precedent. The organization took Ace Bailey at No. 5 last season despite him not working out in Utah, with his camp appearing to push him toward the Wizards instead.

Peterson's agency, The Team, also represents Jazz point guard Keyonte George, who is up for a contract extension this offseason. Sources suggest the agency may be withholding a Peterson visit to Utah as leverage in those negotiations.

Despite front-office ties to Cameron Boozer through his father Carlos and to Dybantsa through Jazz owner Ryan Smith's connection to BYU, sources say those relationships are not expected to drive Utah's final decision.

Luka Doncic is in constant communication with Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick this offseason, with the six-time All-Star expecting the front office to deliver on a championship-caliber roster they have long promised would come in the summer of 2026, sources told ESPN.

"Luka wants to be a championship team yesterday," a source close to Doncic said. "Ever since the trade, they've always told us: 'summer of '26. We'll show you in the summer of '26.' So, we are so excited that the summer of '26 is here."

Doncic, who led the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points per game last season before a Grade 2 left hamstring strain ended his regular season and playoffs, was cleared for basketball activities May 28 and is healthy entering his offseason training program in Slovenia.

"He's in full go mode," one source said.

The 27-year-old has communicated one clear roster priority to Pelinka and Redick, the same request he made upon arriving in Los Angeles 16 months ago.

"Luka's first and foremost desire is an A-list center," a source said.

The preference reflects both offensive and defensive considerations. A rim-running big man would expand Doncic's already potent offensive arsenal, while a capable defensive presence at the position is viewed as necessary to compete with the Western Conference's elite, including Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic, who both finished ahead of Doncic in MVP voting this season.

Current centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes both face uncertain futures. Ayton holds an $8.1 million player option he must exercise by June 29 or become an unrestricted free agent. Hayes, also an unrestricted free agent, is in line for a raise after playing near the veteran minimum.

Doncic has remained in contact with LeBron James and Austin Reaves since the season ended but has not actively recruited either player, sources said. Most conversations with teammates have centered on golf, a sport Doncic took up in February.

Trae Young's decision to opt out of his $48.97 million contract with the Washington Wizards to become a free agent has long been expected within the league. Young is expected to re-sign with the Wizards even though he may actually take meetings with rival teams.

The Wizards acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks, ending his tenure with the franchise he led to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.

"When Trae Young was traded in January, it came with the understanding that he would opt out of his contract," Windhorst said. "It also came with the understanding that he wouldn't play for the rest of the season. ... He may take a meeting or two, just for appearances' sake. He's going to re-sign with the Wizards, likely on a three-year, very large contract."

Marc Stein reported this month that the expectation is that Young will re-sign for approximately $120 million over three years.

Young played in only five games with the Wizards following his trade, averaging 15.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 20.7 minutes.

The Los Angeles Lakers remain the most probable destination for LeBron James if he returns for a 24th NBA season, with the Golden State Warriors emerging as a credible second option, according to more than half a dozen league sources speaking to ESPN.

A source close to James told ESPN that his comfort alongside Luka Doncic would not be an obstacle in any return to the Lakers.

"LeBron rocks with Luka," the source said.

James is not expected to command anything near his previous salary. The Lakers could offer up to three years and $182 million, though no one around the league expects that figure to materialize. A deal in the $20 million to $30 million range is viewed as more realistic and would still allow Los Angeles to re-sign Austin Reaves while building out the rest of the roster.

The Warriors can only offer up to their $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, roughly $37 million below what James earned last season.

James' agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, told ESPN that approximately 10 to 12 teams have reached out about the four-time champion's availability. Paul has made clear, however, that no substantive discussions will begin until James returns from a family vacation that includes a reunion trip with members of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 championship team.

"Believe nothing that's out there because I haven't had one conversation with him," Paul said on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show."

James' eldest son, Bronny James, already holds a partially guaranteed contract with the Lakers for next season.

Money alone will not determine Austin Reaves' free agency decision, according to sources familiar with his thinking, who point to his consistent preference to spend his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Reaves intends to decline his $14.9 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency this offseason, positioning him as one of the top names on the market.

The Lakers can offer Reaves a five-year contract worth $241 million, well above the four-year, $179 million maximum any rival team could present.

Reaves carries just a $20.9 million cap hold, leaving Los Angeles with nearly $50 million in cap space to pursue other free agents while retaining the ability to exceed the cap and re-sign him to a new deal.

Should Reaves accept a contract below the max, it would grant the Lakers additional roster flexibility, including helping the team avoid penalties tied to exceeding the second luxury tax apron.

Reaves turned in a career year in his fifth NBA season, averaging 23.3 points on 49 percent shooting and 36 percent from three-point range, adding 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He appeared in a career-low 51 games after missing time with a left calf injury at midseason and an oblique injury that sidelined him for the start of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

Rob Pelinka voiced confidence that Reaves will remain with the franchise.

"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," Pelinka said. "And we feel the same way. We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the Purple and Gold. ... I think both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out where he continues his prolific career here."

The Brooklyn Nets are among the teams expected to show interest in Reaves, according to multiple league sources. Brooklyn has the cap space to offer the full four-year max and remains in a rebuilding phase.

While there has long been an expectation that the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, whether with the Milwaukee Bucks or via trade, would be resolved by the NBA Draft, growing reporting suggests the situation may remain unresolved well beyond next week and into free agency beginning June 30.

The Bucks have been in talks with the Miami Heat for several months but have signaled they are unwilling to accept what has been offered for Antetokounmpo.

"So far, from what I've been told, the Bucks have yet to receive an offer they are willing to accept for Giannis Antetokounmpo," said Brian Windhorst on Thursday's episode of Get Up. "Which is somewhat mirroring what happened at the trade deadline last February. Where they had the market open, didn't agree to a deal, and ended up keeping Giannis.

"While there is this deadline of the draft, and I'm told they intend to trade him by the draft, I think it's possible, there's some percentage chance, that they don't find a deal that they like.

"Miami has been the team most aggressive in trying to get him. But they have seven or eight different pieces that they can trade, none of them that I consider super-premium and I think the Bucks probably want all of them."

The Portland Trail Blazers faced a similar stalemate with Miami in 2023 over Damian Lillard, a negotiation that began in July and dragged into September before Lillard was eventually dealt to Milwaukee.

The Bucks remain motivated to complete a deal before the draft, as any 2026 picks acquired in a trade must be executed by next week for Milwaukee to make those selections.

The Boston Celtics are the other team that has been most closely linked with a potential trade for Antetokounmpo. 

"Have the Celtics and Bucks talked? I believe that they have," said Windhorst. "If they consummate a deal, would it involve Jaylen Brown? I believe that it would."

The Atlanta Hawks are actively weighing trade-up and trade-down scenarios with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, though the franchise may also stay put and select its preferred prospect, according to sources.

Kingston Flemings is among the players drawing serious consideration at No. 8. The guard is not expected to slide out of the top 10, per sources familiar with draft evaluations.

Atlanta is also expected to bring back veteran guard C.J. McCollum, a move that would allow the team to develop a young guard gradually while giving him immediate opportunities running the second unit.

Flemings' speed and ability to attack the basket would complement a Hawks roster that already features Jalen Johnson and Jonathan Kuminga. Atlanta has a clear need for a downhill, athletic guard to pair alongside McCollum, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The Hawks acquired the No. 8 overall pick via a trade at last year's draft with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Yaxel Lendeborg enters the 2026 NBA Draft with his stock in flux, as pre-draft workouts have fallen short of expectations and questions remain about where the Michigan forward will be selected, per league sources.

Lendeborg has also been managing an ankle injury, though the issue is not considered a long-term concern. His personality has drawn mixed reactions from evaluators, with sources describing him as high-energy and candid to a degree that may not suit every front office.

On the positive side, Lendeborg was well-regarded by his Michigan teammates. He has acknowledged that his practice habits were poor when he arrived in Ann Arbor last offseason but showed clear improvement as the season progressed.

Lendeborg posted 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for the Wolverines last season on their way to the national championship. He measured 6 feet 8 inches without shoes and carries a 7-foot-4 wingspan alongside a 9-foot standing reach.

At 23 years old, Lendeborg is an older prospect and will turn 24 in September before playing his first NBA game. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his range, he remains a top-10 prospect in the view of some evaluators.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan was a recent guest on The Carton Show on WFAN on SNY. Dolan talked about his team winning the 2026 NBA Finals. The Knicks owner was also asked about running it back and keeping the team together for another Finals run.

"If we could bring back the whole team, exactly as it is, why wouldn’t you? But I don’t know if we’re going to be able to," Dolan said. "We’re willing to stretch, but there’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do and we’re not going to do those. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron. But that's up to (president of basketball operations) Leon (Rose). I tell him how big of a check that I'll write. I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron."

The Knicks starting five is under contract for next season, but key backups Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet are unrestricted free agents. Robinson is expected to garner interest from teams around the league at the $15 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception amount. Shamet is expected to get offers that surpass the veteran minimum contract he played under last season.

At the start of the offseason, New York projects to be roughly $10 million under the second apron. Re-signing Robinson and Shamet, as well as bringing back players like Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Sochan, Mohamed Diawara and Ariel Hukporti, would push the Knicks well over the second apron.