NBA 101

Kawhi Leonard’s Potential Trade Status Being Monitored By Multiple Teams

Kawhi Leonard is entering the final season of his current contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and his potential trade status is being monitored by rival teams. Leonard could sign a contract extension with the Clippers and continue to be their franchise player, or they could consider a pivot around Darius Garland and their pick at No. 5 in Tuesday’s draft.

“There are multiple teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard here over the next few weeks,” said Shams Charania on Tuesday.

“I don’t think the draft is necessarily dependent on Kawhi Leonard’s future, but I think in the coming days and weeks we’ll start to learn a little bit more about the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and a potential outside team as well.”

The Golden State Warriors discussed a Leonard trade with the Clippers ahead of the trade deadline in February and could revisit those talks. Steve Ballmer has so far been resistant on the possibility of trading Leonard.

Leonard’s $50.3 million expiring contract would require a significant extension as part of any deal, making a trade a considerable long-term commitment for any acquiring team. Any package would also include a mix of players and future draft capital.

Leonard was a Second Team All-NBA selection in 2025-26, playing perhaps his best basketball since the 2019-20 season.

Another WNBA player development spot has been filled, and 9 remain open

The Phoenix Mercury have signed Shay Ciezki to a developmental contract, the team announced on Monday. A spot opened up after Kiana Williams, who was previously one of two Mercury developmental players, signed with the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.

Ciezki went undrafted in 2026 after a collegiate career that included two years at Penn State and two years at Indiana. She averaged 22.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in her senior season, being named First-Team All-Big Ten. She shot 52.6% from the field, 44.6% from three, and 90.8% from the line last year.

Williams was averaging 4.8 points per game as a developmental player for the Mercury, and now gets a full-time spot with the Sparks. She’s a far more experienced player than Ciezki, having been drafted in 2021.

Phoenix’s other developmental player is rookie Marta Suarez. Suarez, who was drafted 16th overall by the Seattle Storm, signed a developmental contract with the Mercury at the season’s start, and has since appeared in 2 games.

Most WNBA teams have utilized their developmental spots

Players signed to a developmental contract can appear in up to 12 games and make $750 per week. Across the league, 21 of 30 potential developmental spots have been filled.

• The Atlanta Dream have Amy Okonkwo and one open spot
• The Chicago Sky have Aicha Coulibaly and Maddy Westbeld
• The Connecticut Sun have Ashlon Jackson and Hailey Van Lith
• The Dallas Wings have Costanza Verona nad one open spot
• The Golden State Valkyries have Ashten Prechtel and Miela Sowah
• The Indiana Fever have Bree Hall and Justine Pissott
• The Los Angeles Sparks have Kate Martin and Laura Ziegler
• The Minnesota Lynx have Eliska Hamzova and Liatu King
• The New York Liberty have Anneli Maley and Marine Fauthoux
• The Portland Fire have Jordan Harrison and one open spot
• The Seattle Storm have Taina Mair and one open spot
• The Washington Mystics have Darianna Litlepage-Buggs and one open spot

The Las Vegas Aces and Toronto Tempo, meanwhile, have both of their developmental spots open.

Jordan Goodwin, Suns Agree To Three-Year, $19M Contract

The Phoenix Suns and guard Jordan Goodwin have agreed to a three-year, $19 million contract. The deal reportedly includes a player option for Goodwin on the final season.

Goodwin is coming off a breakout season in Phoenix. The 6-foot-3 combo guard averaged 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 22.5 minutes per game for the Suns a year ago.

Phoenix originally claimed Goodwin off waivers after the Los Angeles Lakers waived him last July. Goodwin then went on to play in 70 games for the Suns, with 10 starts. He became an integral part of the backcourt rotation, along with Collin Gillespie, who also recently agreed to a new deal with Phoenix.

CJ McCollum, Hawks Agree To One-Year, $21M Contract

The Atlanta Hawks and veteran guard C.J. McCollum have agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract. McCollum’s new deal will include a $7.5 million trade bonus, according to additional reporting from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

McCollum joined Atlanta after a trade where the Washington Wizards acquired Trae Young. The veteran combo guard immediately became a stabilizing force for the Hawks backcourt. Atlanta went 19-4 with McCollum in the starting lineup.

In the Hawks first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, McCollum was one of the team’s most consistent producers. McCollum averaged 19.2 points and shot 46.5% from the field in the six-game series.

D’Angelo Russell Exercises $5.96M Option With Wizards For 26-27

D’Angelo Russell has exercised his $5.96 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Washington Wizards. The Wizards acquired Russell ahead of the trade deadline from the Dallas Mavericks as part of the Anthony Davis deal.

Russell appeared in 26 games last season with the Mavericks, averaging 10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 19.0 minutes. Russell hadn’t played for several weeks for the Mavericks before the trade and never was required to report to the Wizards after the trade.

Russell was a buyout candidate even in February and that could be revisited now, or he could be used in a trade.

Trey Murphy III More Available By Pelicans During Current Trade Cycle

The New Orleans Pelicans have begun signaling a greater willingness to move wing Trey Murphy III this transaction cycle, with the team seeking to acquire a first-round pick ahead of next week’s NBA Draft, league sources said.

New Orleans has historically held firm on the 25-year-old, but the franchise’s desire to move into the first round has made Murphy more attainable than in previous trade discussions.

Murphy averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 66 games last season, shooting 37.9 percent from three-point range. He is under contract through the 2029 offseason on a four-year, $112 million deal and will earn $27 million next season.

The Golden State Warriors are among the teams that have circled Murphy for years, viewing him as a wing who fits their system and addresses a positional need while helping the franchise get younger. Golden State holds the 11th overall pick and controls its future first-round selections that they can trade.

James Harden Arrested On Misdemeanor Gun Violation

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was arrested in the early hours Saturday on a misdemeanor gun violation. Harden was accused of carrying an unconcealed weapon. He was released on a general bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 22 to face the charges.

Harden was traveling in a group of five vehicles. When one of the other vehicles was stopped by police, Harden pulled up behind it. It was then that the officers noticed a gun in the cup holder of Harden’s vehicle. Harden told the officers that the weapon was his and he was arrested and booked into Harris County jail.

Bucks’ Handling Of Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks At Trade Deadline Slowing Current Activity

The trade market for Giannis Antetokounmpo has been slow to take shape, and rival teams say the Milwaukee Bucks’ handling of trade discussions at the February deadline is a primary reason, according to league sources.

During the deadline period, Bucks general manager Jon Horst opened talks to any team willing to make a pitch for the two-time MVP. As the deadline approached, Milwaukee signaled a genuine willingness to deal its most accomplished player in franchise history. Antetokounmpo ultimately remained with the Bucks, fueling skepticism among rivals about the organization’s true intentions.

Several teams now view that process as a fact-finding mission designed to gauge the market ahead of the summer rather than a sincere attempt to complete a trade. Some front offices are now pressing the Bucks to present concrete terms they would accept, rather than engaging in prolonged back-and-forth negotiations.

Teams are wary of surfacing prominent players in trade discussions only to see those relationships strained if a deal falls apart. The reaction of Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, who unfollowed the Heat on social media amid trade speculation, illustrates the locker-room risk teams are trying to avoid.

Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam has set the June 23 NBA draft as his target for resolution. Whether rival teams engage more seriously as that deadline approaches remains the central question surrounding one of the offseason’s most consequential roster decisions.

The Bucks have signaled that they expect to acquire additional draft picks and their evaluation of offers will heavily focus on tradeable first round picks.

Jalen Brunson Replies ‘Zero-Zero’ When Asked If It Feels Different Being One Win From Title

During Friday’s media availability, Jalen Brunson was asked whether it feels any different for him going into Game 5 now that the New York Knicks are one win away from the NBA championship.

“Zero-zero,” replied Brunson with the implication that the next game is the only one that matters rather than looking it as the Knicks being up 3-1.

Brunson was also asked how he’s been preparing for Game 5 after the Knicks’ improbable Game 4 comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs.

“I think whenever you win or lose a game, that night, I mean, you’re going to think about it, think about the things you’ve done well or what you did wrong,” said Brunson.

“I’ve always told myself when you wake up the next day, it’s time to turn the page. Yes, we won, but we still have a lot of work to do. We have a lot to learn. We didn’t play our best basketball. We still have a lot to revisit to make sure that we don’t really put ourselves in that position again.”

Sixers Promote Jameer Nelson; Extend Prosper Karangwa

The Philadelphia 76ers have promoted Jameer Nelson to be their executive vice president of basketball operations. Nelson will work under newly hired president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.

In addition to promoting Nelson, the Sixers are extending the contract of assistant general manager Prosper Karangwa. Multiple rival teams had considered Karangwa for roles in their front offices this offseason.

Philadelphia’s current GM Elton Brand will vacate that role. The 76ers parent company, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, is working on a new role for Brand elsewhere in the organization.