The NBA Draft is here and with that rumors are flying everywhere. Here is a sampling. Let’s get into it.
Lakers, Celtics talking Derrick White trade
The Boston Celtics aren’t done trimming salary. The Lakers recognize they need to bolster their roster around LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Do we have a match?
One rumor that has gained traction online (which does not necessarily mean it has gained much traction in the real world), the Lakers would acquire championship point guard Derrick White from Boston in a trade centered around Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht. This is fluid and there are a lot of moving parts — some people want Jaylen Brown involved, but that is an insane long shot — but the rumor is out there.
For the Lakers, White is the perfect point guard to play off Doncic. White is an elite defensive point guard who shot 38.4% from 3 last season, and excels at catch-and-shoots, while also capable of creating secondary shots as needed.
For Boston, this is about money. White is about to start a four-year, $118.1 million extension, while Hachimura is in the last year of his contract, and Knecht is on his rookie deal. This would give the Celtics some relief this season — they are about $17 million above the luxury tax line and would like to get below it — and more flexibility next season when Hachimura comes off the books.
I’m not sure the trade will happen, but the rumor is circulating, and it’s something to keep an eye on.
Teams calling Boston about White, Brown
The Lakers aren’t the only team talking to Boston right now; a number of teams with top-10 picks have called the Celtics to gauge their interest in trading Jaylen Brown, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
The Celtics are willing to talk White, but during those conversations other teams are asking whether Boston would trade Brown. Don’t bet on it. It’s not impossible, but it is far less likely.
76ers open to trading No. 3 pick, Hornets open to trading No. 4
The 2025 NBA Draft starts at No. 3. Well, kind of. VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor is going to get drafted No. 3, but the question is, who will be doing the drafting?
The 76ers are shopping the No. 3 pick right up until they are on the clock, and the Charlotte Hornets are doing the same with the No. 4 pick, reports ESPN. Basically, after No. 2, every pick is available at the right price. That could lead to a roller coaster of a night with a ton of trades. It feels like it could be that kind of night.
Heat, Bulls interested in Jonathan Kuminga
The smart bet is that Jonathan Kuminga remains with the Golden State Warriors. It’s the reality of restricted free agency, only the Nets have the cap space to make a free agent offer that might poach him from the Warriors, and the Nets aren’t going to spend on him like that. Golden State has all the leverage, so the sides are looking for a sign-and-trade.
Both Miami and Chicago have at least kicked the tires on a sign-and-trade.
The Heat have some level of interest, reports Anthony Slater of The Athletic. How far their talks have progressed is up for debate.
Chicago also has a legitimate interest, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line.
“Sources say that Chicago has as an ongoing interest in the 22-year-old forward. This tracks with past interest that the Bulls have shown in Kuminga in previous trade discussions with Golden State.”
Kuminga with Josh Giddey and Coby White is… interesting. However, with the Kevin Durant sweepstakes over, teams that struck out there might pivot and consider Kuminga, Fischer adds.
Rockets could make another big swing
Houston did well in the Kevin Durant trade because they added the half court offensive force they needed without giving up too much. That leaves them poised to take another big swing if the opportunity presents itself, reports ESPN’s Brian Windhorst among others.
The Rockets still have Phoenix’s 2027 and 2029 first-round picks to offer in a trade, plus key parts of their core, such as Jabari Smith Jr. or, for a blockbuster, Alperen Sengun. Just something to watch if a situation with another superstar shifts before the next trade deadline.
Also on the Rockets: Plenty of reports that they will talk contract extension with Durant. That should have been pretty obvious when Durant put them on his list of preferred destinations, he wasn’t going to go somewhere unwilling to pay him, but expect that to happen. His max is two years at $122 million (can only be two years with any team due to the over-38 rule) but don’t be surprised if a little is shaved off the top of that, although still well above $100 million for two.
Pacers expected to re-sign Myles Turner
The stomach-turning torn Achilles injury to Tyrese Haliburton has not changed the team’s plans to re-sign free agent center Myles Turner this summer and go into the luxury tax to do it, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype.
There are a lot of teams interested in Turner should he decide to test the market, but the sense from league sources NBC Sports has spoken with is that nobody expects him to be on the move.
Raptors testing market for RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett started 58 games for the Raptors last season, averaging 21.1 points and 6.3 assists a game. He played the majority of those minutes at the three last season, but with Brandon Ingram set to make his Toronto debut in the fall, Barrett would be pushed to the two (Ingram and Scottie Barnes would be the 3/4, with Jakob Poeltl at the five and Immanuel Quickley at the point).
With that, the Raptors are testing the trade market for Barrett, reports Scotto at Hoopshype. Barrett has two years, and more than $57 million left on his contract. Not sure there is a huge market for the former No. 3 pick, but it’s something to watch.
Suns testing trade market for O’Neale, Allen
Phoenix is not done dealing this offseason (in fact, don’t be surprised if the Kevin Durant trade is expanded, since it can’t be finalized until July 6).
The Suns are testing the trade market for Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype. Both of them should draw some interest on the open market.
Kings seek first-round pick
Sacramento’s first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft belongs to the Atlanta Hawks as part of the Kevin Huerter trade (yes, a first for Huerter). Now they want to return to the first round, according to multiple reports.
The Kings are testing the waters to see if Malik Monk or Devin Carter have enough juice to get them a first, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype. I’m not sure those guys get the job done, but the Kings are a team to watch on draft night.
The NBA Draft is here and with that rumors are flying everywhere. Here is a sampling. Let’s get into it.
Lakers, Celtics talking Derrick White trade
The Boston Celtics aren’t done trimming salary. The Lakers recognize they need to bolster their roster around LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Do we have a match?
One rumor that has gained traction online (which does not necessarily mean it has gained much traction in the real world), the Lakers would acquire championship point guard Derrick White from Boston in a trade centered around Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht. This is fluid and there are a lot of moving parts — some people want Jaylen Brown involved, but that is an insane long shot — but the rumor is out there.
For the Lakers, White is the perfect point guard to play off Doncic. White is an elite defensive point guard who shot 38.4% from 3 last season, and excels at catch-and-shoots, while also capable of creating secondary shots as needed.
For Boston, this is about money. White is about to start a four-year, $118.1 million extension, while Hachimura is in the last year of his contract, and Knecht is on his rookie deal. This would give the Celtics some relief this season — they are about $17 million above the luxury tax line and would like to get below it — and more flexibility next season when Hachimura comes off the books.
I’m not sure the trade will happen, but the rumor is circulating, and it’s something to keep an eye on.
Teams calling Boston about White, Brown
The Lakers aren’t the only team talking to Boston right now; a number of teams with top-10 picks have called the Celtics to gauge their interest in trading Jaylen Brown, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
The Celtics are willing to talk White, but during those conversations other teams are asking whether Boston would trade Brown. Don’t bet on it. It’s not impossible, but it is far less likely.
76ers open to trading No. 3 pick, Hornets open to trading No. 4
The 2025 NBA Draft starts at No. 3. Well, kind of. VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor is going to get drafted No. 3, but the question is, who will be doing the drafting?
The 76ers are shopping the No. 3 pick right up until they are on the clock, and the Charlotte Hornets are doing the same with the No. 4 pick, reports ESPN. Basically, after No. 2, every pick is available at the right price. That could lead to a roller coaster of a night with a ton of trades. It feels like it could be that kind of night.
Heat, Bulls interested in Jonathan Kuminga
The smart bet is that Jonathan Kuminga remains with the Golden State Warriors. It’s the reality of restricted free agency, only the Nets have the cap space to make a free agent offer that might poach him from the Warriors, and the Nets aren’t going to spend on him like that. Golden State has all the leverage, so the sides are looking for a sign-and-trade.
Both Miami and Chicago have at least kicked the tires on a sign-and-trade.
The Heat have some level of interest, reports Anthony Slater of The Athletic. How far their talks have progressed is up for debate.
Chicago also has a legitimate interest, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line.
“Sources say that Chicago has as an ongoing interest in the 22-year-old forward. This tracks with past interest that the Bulls have shown in Kuminga in previous trade discussions with Golden State.”
Kuminga with Josh Giddey and Coby White is… interesting. However, with the Kevin Durant sweepstakes over, teams that struck out there might pivot and consider Kuminga, Fischer adds.
Rockets could make another big swing
Houston did well in the Kevin Durant trade because they added the half court offensive force they needed without giving up too much. That leaves them poised to take another big swing if the opportunity presents itself, reports ESPN’s Brian Windhorst among others.
The Rockets still have Phoenix’s 2027 and 2029 first-round picks to offer in a trade, plus key parts of their core, such as Jabari Smith Jr. or, for a blockbuster, Alperen Sengun. Just something to watch if a situation with another superstar shifts before the next trade deadline.
Also on the Rockets: Plenty of reports that they will talk contract extension with Durant. That should have been pretty obvious when Durant put them on his list of preferred destinations, he wasn’t going to go somewhere unwilling to pay him, but expect that to happen. His max is two years at $122 million (can only be two years with any team due to the over-38 rule) but don’t be surprised if a little is shaved off the top of that, although still well above $100 million for two.
Pacers expected to re-sign Myles Turner
The stomach-turning torn Achilles injury to Tyrese Haliburton has not changed the team’s plans to re-sign free agent center Myles Turner this summer and go into the luxury tax to do it, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype.
There are a lot of teams interested in Turner should he decide to test the market, but the sense from league sources NBC Sports has spoken with is that nobody expects him to be on the move.
Raptors testing market for RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett started 58 games for the Raptors last season, averaging 21.1 points and 6.3 assists a game. He played the majority of those minutes at the three last season, but with Brandon Ingram set to make his Toronto debut in the fall, Barrett would be pushed to the two (Ingram and Scottie Barnes would be the 3/4, with Jakob Poeltl at the five and Immanuel Quickley at the point).
With that, the Raptors are testing the trade market for Barrett, reports Scotto at Hoopshype. Barrett has two years, and more than $57 million left on his contract. Not sure there is a huge market for the former No. 3 pick, but it’s something to watch.
Suns testing trade market for O’Neale, Allen
Phoenix is not done dealing this offseason (in fact, don’t be surprised if the Kevin Durant trade is expanded, since it can’t be finalized until July 6).
The Suns are testing the trade market for Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype. Both of them should draw some interest on the open market.
Kings seek first-round pick
Sacramento’s first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft belongs to the Atlanta Hawks as part of the Kevin Huerter trade (yes, a first for Huerter). Now they want to return to the first round, according to multiple reports.
The Kings are testing the waters to see if Malik Monk or Devin Carter have enough juice to get them a first, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype. I’m not sure those guys get the job done, but the Kings are a team to watch on draft night.
