2026 NBA Rumors Live Blog with Latest News, Trade Buzz and Grades 

The Portland Trail Blazers looked at their 2026-27 backcourt of Ja Morant and 36-year-old Damian Lillard coming off a torn Achilles and decided interior defense was probably important.

As a result, Robert Williams III has agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract extension to stay with the franchise, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Williams is one of the NBA's best rim protectors when healthy, yet has played just 85 total games in three seasons in Portland. He did appear in 59 last season, averaging 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 17.1 minutes as the backup to Donovan Clingan. Williams even started sprinkling in some three-point shooting for the first time in his career, making 9-of-23 attempts (39.1 percent).

A three-year deal probably signals that last year's first-round pick, Yang Hansen, won't be ready to play meaningful NBA minutes anytime soon.

If Williams can stay reasonably healthy, this contract is fine, especially if the 28-year-old can continue to develop his outside shooting. This is still a hefty amount of money to pay a backup center, however, as Clingan looks like he's cemented as the future of the franchise at the position.

Blazers Grade: B-

Building back depth is perhaps the most important part of the Miami Heat's offseason after giving up so much in the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat is capped at the first apron as well, so there's limited spending power.

Bringing Simone Fontecchio back, presumably on a veteran minimum deal, is a no-brainer.

The 30-year-old brings size and shooting on the wing and should continue to secure a place in Miami's rotation. In 70 games last season, Fontecchio averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds across 16.8 minutes while hitting 37.5 percent of his threes.

The veteran forward should get even more open looks now when Antetokounmpo inevitably draws double teams and connected on 48.1 percent of his "wide open" (six feet or more between the nearest defender) shot attempts last season.

Heat Grade: B

The Golden State Warriors' grand plan of assembling the all-2010's team of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and Draymond Green has hit a few snags.

A two-year, $40 million contract extension for Kristaps Porziņģis has limited the Golden State Warriors' financially flexibility, as now the team may not be able to utilize the full $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to try and sign LeBron James.

Another problem? The Warriors reportedly told Jimmy Butler that they won't trade him, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Butler (owed $56.8 million) would have to be moved to math salaries for Davis ($58.4 million). Getting Davis, a friend and former title-winning teammate of James, could be crucial to getting the four-time MVP to agree to take a pay cut to join Golden State.

A potential Kawhi Leonard trade is apparently very much financially motivated.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that the Los Angeles Clippers have not offered any kind of extension to Leonard as he heads into the final year of his contract, a bit of a surprise considering how dominant the two-time Finals MVP was this past year.

Windhorst also states that the Toronto Raptors are willing to give Leonard an extension and that the 35-year-old is willing to sign one with the franchise where he delivered a title in 2019.

This could be the Clippers looking to sell high on Leonard as he enters the final few years of his career, especially coming off so many injury-plagued seasons in Los Angeles. The Charlotte Hornets pulled off a similar move recently, trading the oft-injured LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves while his stock was high.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, a Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors trade could happen as early as today, with Brandon Ingram going to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I think the Clippers and the Raptors have agreed on player compensation. I think it would be Brandon Ingram based on what I am told that would head to Los Angeles."

Ingram is due $40.0 million next season, getting the Raptors close to Leonard's $50.3 million salary. More salary would need to be included from Toronto to make a trade legal.

Windhorst notes that the two sides are still talking draft compensation, and that the Raptors have all four of their future first-round picks available to trade.