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

Jaylen Brown has been perhaps the most-discussed NBA player of the offseason, and the latest rumor has him potentially landing with the Denver Nuggets.

As you can see in the video above from Bill Simmons, the key players involved could be Brown and Sam Hauser from Boston and Jamal Murray and Cam Johnson from Denver.

And while public opinion would likely look at such a deal as the Nuggets acquiring a bigger star to play alongside Nikola Jokić, Murray was actually a fair bit better (at least statistically) last season.

Murray's game might fit Jayson Tatum's a bit better too. He creates more for others than Brown, and he turns the ball over quite a bit less.

If you want to sell this for the Nuggets, you'd obviously point to defense. Brown is bigger and can guard multiple positions. But the potential dropoff on the offensive end might outweigh that.

Shortly after HoopsHype's Michael Scotto broke the news of Buddy Hield's 2026-27 salary being guaranteed by the Atlanta Hawks, Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer added that that might simply be a precursor to a trade.

We'll obviously have more to analyze if or when that happens, but any team ending up with Hield would have one of the best floor spacers of all time.

Hield's career average of 2.9 threes per game ranks seventh all time. And the only players in that top seven with a higher career three-point percentage than Hield's 39.5 are Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

After the Charlotte Hornets unloaded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, they could probably justify a pretty slow build around Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, incoming rookie Christian Anderson and other members of the young core, but they may have some interest in another path.

According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, it might include Jaylen Brown.

"Charlotte also had exploratory conversations regarding Brown, which included a newly acquired player from the LaMelo Ball trade. The Hornets recently landed Naz Reid from Minnesota. Before the Ball trade, Boston desired Reid as part of Brown trade talks with Minnesota, as noted by The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. Reid once again was brought up in talks for Brown after joining the Hornets, HoopsHype has learned..."

Scotto also added that Miles Bridges' contract would've been important for salary-matching purposes in a Brown deal, but there are others the Hornets could cobble together to get there.

And even though point guard would still be a question, a core of Knueppel, Miller and Brown would be awfully interesting.

With his lack of availability over the last several years and a 2025-26 that was likely his worst statistical season, it's no surprise that there hasn't been much of a trade market for Ja Morant.

But according to Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor, there may be at least one suitor out there who'll roll the dice on the oft-injured and soon-to-be-27-year-old point guard.

O'Connor wrote, "league sources expect Morant to be traded this week," and it isn't likely to be for much more than a song.

Still, whatever team buys low on the two-time All-Star should get a Morant motivated to prove his doubters wrong. And if he can bounce back to even 90-95 percent of the player he was at his peak, he'll be among the best guards in the NBA.

The Ringer's Bill Simmons has been hinting at this possibility for months. And though a Stephen Curry-LeBron James combo is likely too old to realistically contend for a title, it sure would be fun.

The chemistry between those two instantly formed during their 2024 run to Olympic gold. And both are still playing at an All-NBA (or at least fringe All-NBA) level.

They'd likely get outmuscled and outrun by younger teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Warriors with Curry, LeBron and maybe even Anthony Davis would get them closer to a puncher's chance than they are now.

In his lone season with the Los Angeles Clippers, John Collins had a smaller role and lower per-game averages than he's put up for most of his career, but at least three playoff teams are still interested in signing him.

According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, The San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers are potential suitors. And it's not hard to see his fit in any of those spots.

Collins is still on the right side of 30 (he turns 29 in September), can shoot threes and typically puts up solid numbers whenever given the opportunity.

For his career, Collins has averaged 19.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.3 threes and 1.2 blocks per 75 possessions (there are only five players in league history who match or exceed all four of those marks).

The Denver Nuggets were arguably the single most disappointing team in the NBA this season, especially after they were eliminated by a Minnesota Timberwolves team down Anthony Edwards.

And instead of responding to the letdown by chasing a bigger-name head coach, Denver committed to David Adelman for at least another year.

Or at least it did a few weeks ago. The latest news (courtesy of Marc Stein and Jake Fischer) suggests the Nuggets may be looking for an experienced head coach to be a lead assistant on Adelman's staff.

And while such a move could speed up his development and ultimately make him a better coach, there are pretty obvious and more cynical reads of the situation.

Denver is almost saying its head coach needs a babysitter. And the most dramatic interpretation could be that the organization is pre-installing its interim coach in the event the Nuggets disappoint again and Adelman is let go midseason.

In their latest round of reporting, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer shared that the Golden State Warriors are expected to re-sign Kristaps Porziņģis.

In strictly basketball terms, the move makes sense. Porziņģis' shooting opens up the floor on one end, while his size and shot-blocking can be a boon to a defense that asks too much of Draymond Green.

But at this point, Porziņģis might be up there with Joel Embiid, Ja Morant and a few others for the honor of being the league's biggest injury concern.

As old as this team is, and after bringing back Porziņģis, it would have to be spectacularly lucky to be healthy enough to be a real contender by the spring.

With New York Knicks owner James Dolan insisting on the team operating under the second apron, players on veteran minimum salaries will be important.

And at this point in his career, that's probably around what Jordan Clarkson is worth.

New York is reportedly considering bringing the 34-year-old back, despite him averaging a career-low 8.6 points per game in the regular season and 4.9 in the playoffs during his first year with the team.

And honestly, even after considering those numbers, it's not a bad idea. Again, the Knicks need cost-effective options on the bench. And with one of the best starting lineups in the league, reserves don't have a ton of expectations.

Clarkson's experience and confidence as a former heat-check scorer can still help, especially if New York can't afford to bring Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson back.

The Denver Nuggets have had three straight, earlier-than-expected playoff exits since winning the title in 2026. And that's led to all kinds speculation this summer.

Could Jamal Murray or Aaron Gordon be traded? Will they re-sign Peyton Watson (whether outright or by matching an offer sheet from another team)? Does Nikola Jokić declining to sign an extension mean anything (he can get more money by waiting a year, but not inking a new deal will have the national media cooking up fake trades)?

Ideally, the front office and ownership would just pony up, re-sign Watson (assuming the deal isn't crazy), add some inexpensive athleticism and hope for better health next season, but there's too much smoke to ignore on potential cost-cutting moves.

The Athletic's Sam Amick reported that there's no mandate from owners to shed salary, but they've rarely been among the league's biggest spenders, even during the Jokić era.

Depending on what they'd have to give up to get him, Kawhi Leonard landing on the Mavericks could make them a bona fide title contender.

Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg would instantly be among the most talented trios in the league. They'd need multiple other role players to hit, but that's a foundation that could at least raise some eyebrows in San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

Of course, with Kawhi and Kyrie both in their mid-30s (Leonard turns 35 on Monday, and Irving will join him there in March) and injury prone, giving up much for Kawhi is a risk.

The safer approach is a slower build around Flagg, but we've seen a team trade for the last year of a Leonard contract before. And the last time it happened, the cost made it a no-brainer for the Toronto Raptors, who went on to win a championship in the ensuing season.

If the Toronto Raptors land Kawhi Leonard without having to give up either of Scottie Barnes or Collin Murray-Boyles (so, with a package built around Brandon Ingram and draft capital), they'd absolutely be a title contender.

A defense with Leonard, Barnes and Murray-Boyles could be ferocious. And Leonard's offense would give them the A1 scorer they've lacked since he left for Los Angeles seven (?!) years ago.

A trade still feels less likely than Leonard staying put for the last year on his contract, but this rumor already has more steam than it did a couple days ago. There's a chance.

After trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Miami Heat are in dire need of shooting. And ideally, those shooters would come for relatively cheap.

So it should come as no surprise to learn that that's exactly what they'll be chasing this offseason: affordable but effective three-point threats.

Sunday, the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson shared some potential targets, including Tim Hardaway Jr., Mike Conley, Landry Shamet, Anfernee Simons and Quentin Grimes.

Last season, the Charlotte Hornets were plus-6.4 points per 100 possessions when both LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges were on the floor.

They were key cogs in the Hornets' late-season surge that nearly led to a playoff berth.

And just a few months later, the team's starting point guard and power forward have both been sent to the Western Conference in seemingly win-later moves.

In Bridges' case, he, a protected future first-round pick and a protected future second-round pick were sent to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick.

The move may make Phoenix better in the short term, though maybe only marginally so. And it both opens up opportunities in Charlotte for Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, while giving it a high-value asset.

Suns Grade: C-

Hornets Grade: A

Full Analysis and Grades Here