Jalen Duren appears to be willing to bet on himself, with the Detroit Pistons unable to meet his contract demands before the end of September.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Duren is becoming more and more open to accepting his one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer that would allow him to play the 2026-27 season and become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
"The challenge Duren faces hasn't changed much since early July. He seeks a lucrative new five-year deal reflective of his leaps last season to All-Star and All-NBA status — playoff struggles be ******* ed — but there is no team in the marketplace with salary cap ******* e to make a run at Duren that exerts pressure on the Pistons to increase their offers."
"One source briefed on the process says Duren is increasingly prepared to play out the coming season on his $9.6 million qualifying offer — with the intent to become an unrestricted free agent next summer — if no deal with Detroit materializes by the end of September. That would be a risky route to go for a player who achieved what Duren achieved last season, and there will naturally be considerable skepticism that the 22-year-old is truly willing to go the qualifying offer route until it actually happens … but let's see how the rest of the month plays out."
That lack of outside leverage has become the center of this stalemate.

#year #become

With training camp fast approaching, several Central Division teams still have a few questions to answer. Jalen Duren's contract situation is still unresolved in Detroit; Victor Oladipo has been seen as an option for the Chicago Bulls, and the Pistons are even connected to Michael Porter Jr. as a potential future trade target.
The biggest storyline ongoing is Duren's restricted free agency, but there appears to be a little more optimism about that agreement. The Athletic's Sam Amick reported that the financial difference between Duren and the Pistons isn't as big as it was previously believed.
"I mean, as far as the state of affairs, I don't know which way it's going to go. There is a gap. It's not as big as I thought it was before having a few recent conversations. It seems like there's, you know, there's a window here to get something done and put him back in a Pistons jersey."
"I think what's interesting is, like, the QO (qualifying offer) has become such a nuclear option for players and also for teams that it's fair to wonder, like, 'Man, if they can't completely bridge that gap, how do both sides feel about the QO?'" Amick continued. "Because, even from a human standpoint, we, as you guys know, haven't seen a lot of people successfully take that route."
Duren has been seeking more than $40 million a year, and the Pistons have been around $35 million per season. ESPN's Tim MacMahon recently put the Pistons' offer in the ballpark of $180 million over five years. The alternative is Duren accepting the $9.6 million qualifying offer and becoming an unrestricted free agent next season. This has been described as a nuclear option because of the risk it carries for both sides. The Kings do remain an interested party in a sign-and-trade possibility, or even a potential 2027 destination, because they can create the most max cap ******* e then, but the Pistons have reportedly had no interest in a sign-and-trade as of now.

#pistons #even

The Sacramento Kings' interest in Jalen Duren isn't going away, even if the Pistons have basically shut the door on a sign-and-trade for now. On the latest episode of ESPN's The Hoop Collective, Anthony Slater said GM Scott Perry has Duren's name "with highlighter pen" as a possible target, while also noting that Sacramento could create max cap ***** e next summer if Duren takes his $9.6 million qualifying offer and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027. The Kings already met with Duren earlier in free agency, so this isn't just random trade-machine talk.
The problem is Detroit. The Kings would like to sign-and-trade for Duren with Domantas Sabonis going the other way, per Tim MacMahon, but "that's not happening," because the Pistons have made it clear they aren't interested in moving their 22-year-old All-NBA center. Detroit reportedly wants Duren closer to $35.0 million per season, while his camp is looking for more than $40.0 million, and the Pistons still "absolutely, positively, 100%" intend to keep him despite that gap in "nasty" negotiations.
So if the Kings really want Duren now instead of waiting another year, Sabonis alone clearly isn't getting it done. They would need to make the return much bigger, probably bring in more teams to solve the salary issues, and give Detroit enough immediate talent and draft capital to at least reconsider its current position. This four-team framework with the Bucks and Raptors does exactly that, while landing Sacramento the young center they clearly want to build around.
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jakob Poeltl, Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland, 2027 second-round pick via Pistons, 2029 first-round pick via Raptors
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jalen Duren

#sacramento #pistons

While the Detroit Lions are preparing for the 2026 season, the latest NFL rumors project that the team could lose one player. According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the Lions have committed more than $1 billion to star players, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs, which leaves veterans Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta fighting for new contracts this upcoming season. Graziano does not expect a new contract to materialize before Week 1, but Lions general manager Brad Holmes expresses his desire to keep all star players from the 2023 draft class, including LB Jack Campbell, for a "long time."
"We still want to keep those guys around; those plans haven't changed," Holmes said Wednesday, via Richard Silva of The Detroit News. "There's a couple factors that we've still got to sort through. But in terms of us wanting those guys around? Absolutely. Hopefully, we can get that done."
"Hopefully" is a strong word for the Lions. Detroit is walking into the season without triggering new deals for Branch or LaPorta, who are both coming off season-ending injuries. Both are also set to become unrestricted free agents next offseason.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) makes a catch against Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) during the first half at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Unfortunately, it will probably come down to who can stay healthier and make an immediate impact this upcoming campaign. After all, Branch and LaPorta have proven to be top-5 athletes when healthy. However, the former second-round pick and 2024 Pro Bowl safety may have an edge here. The Lions were forced to release cornerback Terrion Arnold this offseason due to the latest investigation, and if they give up another elite secondary threat, it could become detrimental to the team's defense.

#lions #detroit #season #latest

How George Pickens could have a 'massive opportunity' that would hurt the Cowboys originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys elected not to sign George Pickens to a long-term contract extension this offseason, instead franchise tagging him at a $27.3 million mark.
But looking at next offseason, the Cowboys will either have to sign him to a long-term deal or franchise tag him for a massive $32 million-plus one-year contract.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell doesn't believe the Cowboys will have interest in such a lofty one-year deal. If so, Pickens has a massive opportunity in 2026 to have another big season and hit free agency to land a massive new deal.
"The Cowboys spent heavily to fix their defense this offseason, and they might not be interested in a second franchise tag for Pickens in 2027, which would cost more than $32 million," Barnwell writes. "Hitting unrestricted free agency as a 26-year-old wide receiver could be a massive opportunity for Pickens, who would potentially be the best player available."

#cowboys #massive #Opportunity #offseason

The Dallas Mavericks are expected to have Kyrie Irving back after he missed the entire 2025-26 campaign because of a torn ACL, and Dirk Nowitzki is among those excited to see the 34-year-old guard again soon.
In a recent interview with WFAA's Joe Trahan, Nowitzki strongly believes Irving's return will address the Dallas Mavericks' Achilles heel last season – the point guard position. The one-time NBA champion is also interested in how Irving will play alongside franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
Nov 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) looks back at guard Kyrie Irving (left) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
"The most exciting thing is, on the court, what struggled last year for the Mavs were the point guard position. And now you have one of the all-time greats coming back with Kyrie. He had a year off. He should be ready. He should be excited. He watched Cooper for a year, so I'm sure in his head, he has a plan on how they're going to play off each other," Nowitzki stated.
Irving is entering his contract year with the Dallas Mavericks, where he'll earn around $39.5 million, and the 34-year-old guard can exercise his $42.4 million player option in the summer of 2027 (or become an unrestricted free agent).

#irving #back

Shaq Thompson is back with the Buffalo Bills.
Not that he ever really went anywhere.
The Bills signed the veteran linebacker to their practice squad Monday after Thompson spent the entire offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
"I wanted to be a Bill. I wanted to play football. I wanted to be around these guys," Thompson said on Tuesday. "When you come to work everyday and everybody has the same mindset... They make work fun. They make the building fun. Atmosphere is fun.
"Just brothers. It's more than just football players coming together. It's a true family here."

#work

The Detroit Pistons keep having trouble with the Jalen Duren contract situation, which has dragged on much longer than I initially expected once no other team could throw him a deal in restricted free agency.
ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that the gap is still pretty clear: Detroit has been offering Duren a five-year contract around $35.0 million per season, while Duren wants an average salary above $40.0 million. Training camp opens later this month, and Duren can still take his $9.6 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, so this isn't something Detroit can simply wait and see what happens.
I still think Duren stays with the Pistons; there is too much sense for both sides to keep the partnership going, especially after he averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 ******* ists on 65.0% from the field, became an All-Star and made All-NBA Third Team for a 60-22 team. But Detroit also traded Isaiah Stewart to the Grizzlies this summer, and that left them without the type of proven backup center they had last season.
That is why I would call the Dallas Mavericks about Daniel Gafford. Of course, he wouldn't replace Duren immediately, because that shouldn't be Detroit's plan, but he could give the Pistons one of the best backup centers in basketball right now, and if this Duren situation somehow becomes a sign-and-trade later, Detroit wouldn't suddenly enter the season without a starting center.
More importantly, his game fits Cade Cunningham in probably the easiest way possible: screen, roll, catch the lob, finish, protect the rim, repeat.

#season #situation

After playing for the Atlanta Hawks for only four months, the team decided not to pick up Jonathan ***** inga's $24.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent.
And still, ***** inga's agent, Aaron Turner, seems to believe that his client was the Hawks' best player during the short stint he had with them since the trade in February. Turner recently sat down with Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports and discussed his client, Jonathan ***** inga's time with the Hawks, and why it came to an end.
"Also, JK got shipped to Atlanta. And there's a lot of talk about Jonathan ***** inga and his impact on winning and the players. He was their best player from the moment he showed up in terms of winning impact," Turner said.
"He had the best on-off net rating in the regular season and in the playoffs in their two wins against the Knicks. Who had the best net rating? These are facts. These aren't opinions. Who had the best net rating? Jonathan ***** inga. You know, him and CJ really, really, both in game two and game three, really, really stepped up and willed the team to those two wins."
"Now, could JK have stayed in Atlanta this year? And where would that lead him in an expiring deal? Yeah, I mean, there, if he wanted to be the eighth player there or come off the bench, that could have possibly been something that, yes, he could have done that.

#kuminga

Last week, Jonathan ******* inga - the former No. 7 overall pick by the Golden State Warriors - ended his first stint in unrestricted free agency by agreeing to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The deal includes a player option on the second season, allowing ******* inga to reenter free agency if he chooses.
Almost immediately, ******* inga and his agent, Aaron Turner, were criticized for the deal. After all, it was only one year ago when the Warriors reportedly discussed offering ******* inga two different three-year deals - one worth $75 million with a team option on the third year and the other worth $54 million without an option. Turner and ******* inga held firm against their interest in those deals, with Turner doing a media tour saying ******* inga needed to receive a player option to be satisfied.
That dragged all the way to the start of training camp last summer and held up all of Golden State's other moves in the process until, two days into camp, ******* inga finally signed a two-year, $48.5 million deal with a team option. After a promising start to the 2025-26 season, ******* inga ultimately fell out of the Dubs rotation entirely and was traded to the Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis at the trade deadline. (That also led to all the behind-the-scenes drama from his Bay Area stint.)
Kuminga had his moments in Atlanta, including in an upset playoff win over the Knicks, but the Hawks declined his team option and sent him to the unrestricted free agency that he and Turner were so thirsty to get to. Turner had even set the stakes rather clearly in an interview with the San Francisco Standard after ******* inga's Warriors deal last October.
"This is what's funny to me. Everybody's like, 'Aaron f-ked up.' I'm like, hold on. Did I fumble something?" Turner told the Standard. "Because fumbling would mean like next year, if JK is making $10 million a year, you could say I fumbled by not taking [three years for $75 million]. You can't say I fumbled because I didn't fumble anything yet."

#million

Jonathan ******* inga picked the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that stunned fans expecting a bigger paycheck. The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. This structure lets him test free agency again next summer when more teams will have cash to spend.
His agent, Aaron Turner, told The Athletic that defense was the main reason for the switch. Turner said, "Ant was super active in the recruitment of him," referring to Anthony Edwards' role in the process. Edwards focused his message on the team's defensive identity rather than just offense.
Turner explained that while everyone else looked at the offensive side of the ball, ******* inga and his team looked at the defensive end. "He made this decision because of the defensive versatility of this team," Turner stated. The Lakers offered a sign-and-trade that would have locked ******* inga into a three-year deal worth $12 million a year. Minnesota offered a shorter path to a massive payday later. ******* inga wants to prove he can guard multiple positions before signing a long-term contract in 2027. The Timberwolves need that specific skill set to win now, and ******* inga sees a clear role where he can shine.
This choice follows a pattern of ******* inga turning down safer options to bet on his future value. Before leaving the Golden State Warriors, he declined a three-year, $75 million extension. According to reports, prioritizing finances over the game doesn't sustain the ability to generate increasing revenue. The Warriors didn't offer a clear starting role, so ******* inga felt he couldn't bet on himself there. He took the shortest option available, which eventually led to his trade to the Atlanta Hawks and then to Minnesota.
The Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent. Now, he faces a new challenge in Minnesota alongside stars like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. This mindset fits a team that prioritizes winning over individual numbers. ******* inga knows he must play well to maximize his next contract, and the Timberwolves provide the right system to show off his two-way potential.

#timberwolves #edwards #team

Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to a eight-year, $163.2 million extension, his agency announced Friday. The deal will be worth $20.4 million in annual average value; Makar becomes the first player in the NHL to sign a deal exceeding $20 million in annual salary, via insider Frank Seravalli.
Makar is entering the final year of a six-year, $54 million extension he signed in July 2021. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Getting a deal done now allows Makar and the Avalanche to ensure the contract is for eight years. Once the NHL's new CBA goes into effect on Sept. 15, maximum contract lengths cannot exceed seven years.
The Avalanche confirmed the deal with a video of Makar, in which he said he "couldn't be more excited" to stay in Colorado for the long-term future.
Makar, 27, is entering his eighth NHL season, all with Colorado. Since breaking into the league during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the UMass product has won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, been named to the NHL First All-Star Team four times, won two Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenseman, and helped the Avalanche to the 2021-22 Stanley Cup ******* le, where he was also named postseason MVP.

#stanley

DeWanna Bonner, a 17-year WNBA veteran, will sign with the Atlanta Dream for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs, according to sources familiar with the deal.
Sources were granted anonymity because they were not permitted to speak publicly about the deal. Bonner agreed to a buyout with the Phoenix Mercury Monday in order to pursue one last postseason run in her career. The Mercury were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday following a loss to the Dream. Bonner cleared waivers and is free to sign with the Dream as an unrestricted free agent.
Bonner, 39, has averaged 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in her playoff career. She has only missed the playoffs once in her career and will make a 16th postseason appearance in 2026.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Atlanta Dream, WNBA

#atlanta

Shams Charania: BREAKING: Klay Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers upon a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN.
x.com
Chris Haynes: Dallas Mavericks announce they have reached a buyout agreement with sharpshooter Klay Thompson, making him an unrestricted free agent. — 8/21/2026 x.com
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that the team has reached a buyout agreement with guard/forward Klay Thompson. Thompson (6-6, 220) appeared in 141 games (80 starts) in his two seasons with Dallas and averaged 12.9 points on 40.3% shooting from the field and 38.7% from three. "Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization," said Mavericks President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri. "We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward." — 8/21/2026 NBA.com

#dallas #charania

Chris Haynes: Dallas Mavericks announce they have reached a buyout agreement with sharpshooter Klay Thompson, making him an unrestricted free agent.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mavericks reach buyout agreement with Klay Thompson to make him unrestricted free agent

#mavericks #thompson #unrestricted #free

The Kansas City Chiefs made a huge investment in rookie defensive back Mansoor Delane back in April — trading up to the No. 6 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select the former LSU Tigers standout.
While Delane is expected to play a key role in Kansas City's defense this season, his full participation in practices at Chiefs training camp was delayed due to a shoulder injury that kept him from taking part in full-contact drills.
On Monday, August 17, Delane took his first unrestricted repetitions at Kansas City's workouts and made a great first impression on fans and members of the media who were in attendance at Missouri Western State University.
Take a look at these videos of Delane dominating in practice, which were posted to Twitter by various accounts:
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Rookie DB Mansoor Delane impresses in practice at Chiefs training camp

#delane

Shams Charania: The Cavaliers remain in constant communication with James Harden and his agents on a new contract to return to Cleveland while they strongly pursue two free agent forwards -- restricted Peyton Watson and unrestricted Jonathan ***** inga -- made more viable with Friday's trade.
x.com
D'Antoni on the James Harden and Chris Paul Rockets: "We thought we were the best team in the league by far that year for sure. And we had Golden State on the ropes, with their Big 3 -- Big 4, actually, they'll probably have four Hall-of-Fame guys going in. They were good, and Steve Kerr does a great job. We had 'em, you know? We had 'em, and just, Chris [Paul] got hurt, and that's just the way it goes. And then we missed 27 3s in a row, which didn't help. ***** ytically, I know that's not good! I knew it wasn't when we were doing it, but just a great team." — 8/14/2026 YouTube
NBACentral: Austin Rivers calls out the media and NBA fans for failing to appreciate Russell Westbrook during his career, and predicts James Harden, Devin Booker, and Donovan Mitchell won't get their proper respect until they're gone (h/t big_business_) — 8/14/2026 x.com

#james #harden #good #charania

LOS ANGELES -- The Sparks (12-19) take on the Phoenix Mercury (12-22). But in this instance, the Sparks will be playing at Galen Center in the University of Southern California.
This game had a lot of intrigue. After all, both teams made a big trade with each other. The Sparks sent Kelsey Plum to the Mercury in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first round pick, and a 2028 second rounder.
It turns out that Plum will be out for this Tuesday game while Akoa Makani is listed as questionable. So Plum won't be able to take on her former team in her first return to L.A. since the trade occurred. The Sparks are 2-2 since the deal while the Mercury are 1-3.
The playoffs are blurry in both teams' view at this point so they gotta see what they have. And it's a little tough for both. Akoa Makani is under contract for next season but Plum is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Plum had mentioned that she was going to go through the full process of free agency so the Mercury have to show Plum why she should stay.
There are plenty of reasons to stay. Alyssa Thomas (who had a triple-double when they last visited L.A. on July 22nd) and Kahleah Copper are perennial all-stars. With Plum, they have a "big three" that they can call their own. Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts also encourages three-pointers in his system and Plum could similarly thrive in that as she did under Lynne Roberts in Los Angeles.

#plum #mercury

Download the Complete Report Here
The MITT transaction materially improves value realization for CHMI shareholders while preserving meaningful participation in the combined platform. CHMI entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by TPG Mortgage Investment Trust (MITT), with closing targeted for 4Q26. The $3.10 signing value represents a 29% premium to CHMI's unaffected $2.41 share price and approximately 0.98x June 30 BVPS of $3.16, while roughly 30% of announced consideration is cash and CHMI holders retain approximately 27% ownership of the combined company. Through the fixed 0.3063 exchange ratio, the stock component provides both near-term value realization and continued exposure to MITT's earnings, book value and potential rerating following closing.
Strategically, the merger creates a larger and more diversified residential mortgage REIT with a clearer path to earnings and valuation upside. The combined investment portfolio is expected to total approximately $9.0 billion, while management expects $7-$9 million of annual operating efficiencies, 2027 earnings accretion and lower pro forma economic leverage of roughly 2.9x. TPG's direct ~$20 million / $0.52-per-share cash contribution, proprietary securitization capabilities and experience originating, acquiring and managing MSRs add further support, with greater scale, lower unit costs and broader capital-allocation flexibility providing multiple avenues for value creation across the combined platform.
2Q26 EAD beat expectations as stronger RMBS carry and dollar-roll income drove the best quarterly core earnings performance since 1Q25. EAD increased to $0.15/share from $0.14 in 1Q26 and $0.11 in 4Q25, while dividend coverage expanded to approximately 1.5x on the $0.10 quarterly payout. The stronger-than-expected print supported an upward revision in the Street's 2026E EAD estimate to $0.59/share from $0.55, with current estimates of $0.15/share for both 3Q26E and 4Q26E.
Lower funding costs and wider RMBS spreads improved the quality of 2Q26 earnings despite higher prepayments and modest book-value pressure. Net interest income rose to $4.7 million, RMBS net interest spread widened to approximately 3.45% from 2.90%, and aggregate leverage declined to 5.02x from 5.49x, while unrestricted cash increased to $52.1 million from $46.7 million. Offsetting these gains, RMBS CPR increased to 9.7%, MSR CPR rose to 6.3%, BVPS declined modestly to $3.16 from $3.23, and Real Genius required a $2.8 million impairment.

#rmbs #approximately #chmi #combined

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tarik Skubal yielded three runs on four hits while pitching five innings in the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner's home debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers against Kansas City on Monday night.
Skubal left with the Dodgers trailing 3-2 after a decent, if unspectacular, first start in the home whites. Although he struck out six, Skubal didn't live up to manager Dave Roberts' pregame prediction of "an electric night" for the vaunted left-hander and his slumping club, which lost eight of nine heading into this homestand.
Skubal needed 95 pitches and managed just one 1-2-3 inning against the Royals, with Jac Caglianone tagging him for a two-run homer and an RBI single. Skubal also issued two walks and hit a batter in just his second career appearance at Dodger Stadium, taking the mound nine days after the defending champions acquired him from Detroit in the biggest trade of the deadline.
Los Angeles gave up three promising prospects for what might be a short-term rental of the 29-year-old Skubal, who will reap the benefits of unrestricted free agency this winter.
Skubal made his Dodgers debut at Wrigley Field last Tuesday, pitching six innings of two-run, four-hit ball with six strikeouts in his new team's 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

#Dodgers

Celtics Named Best Fit for 6-Time All-Star Who Ranks 16th on NBA's All-Time Scoring List originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Should the Boston Celtics pursue DeMar DeRozan?
The six-time All-Star is an unrestricted free agent after being waived by the Sacramento Kings. Bleacher Report's Dan Favale ranked DeRozan, 37, as the best free agent currently available and included the Celtics as one of his best fits.
Favale mentioned the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and Miami Heat as other possible landing spots for DeRozan.
"DeRozan has missed 13 combined games over the past three seasons and racked up more than 10 DNPs just twice for his entire career," wrote Favale. "The absence of meaningful three-point volume works against him, but he's averaged over 20 points per 36 minutes on better than 50 percent shooting inside the arc through each of the past seven seasons. Nikola Jokić, De'Aaron Fox and Jaylen Brown are the only other players who have done the same while qualifying for the scoring leaderboard.

#best #nesn

Warriors star named one of most overpaid players at his position originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Well, this isn't necessarily a list that Golden State Warriors star forward Jimmy Butler wanted to be on.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently named Butler as one of the most overpaid forwards in the entire NBA, largely due to the fact that he'll be sidelined for a large chunk of the upcoming 2026-27 season due to a knee injury.
Butler will make over $58 million for the upcoming campaign, but will likely be available for fewer than half the games. The star forward is set for unrestricted free agency next summer.
"This is mostly a technicality, as Butler underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL on Feb. 9, 2026 and therefore figures to miss half of the upcoming season. Considering he'll be 37 before the campaign even starts, it's hard to imagine that shelf-time estimate is on the low end, and it's also tough to envision him sustaining the level of play he showed last year," Hughes wrote.

#butler #star #Warriors

Often the forgotten pending unrestricted free agent on the Colorado Avalanche, Artturi Lehkonen — like Cale Makar — has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1.
When general manager Joe Sakic was asked about Lehkonen's situation back in June, he said getting a deal done with the veteran forward was a priority for the Avalanche and something the team hoped to accomplish this summer.
Basically, it's no different than Makar's pending extension.
"We're going to talk to their agent in the summer. That focus is going to take place in the summer," Sakic said. "All the extensions — once we get to mid-July, that's when those talks start beginning. We're definitely going to be looking to hopefully come to an agreement with Artturi as well. He's such a big, important player for our team."
If that remains the plan, the Avalanche and Lehkonen's camp have now been in discussions for several weeks. But unlike Makar, there may not be much urgency to get a Lehkonen extension done immediately.

#artturi #lehkonen #makar #july

We're probably still weeks away from a meaningful resolution on Peyton Watson's ongoing standoff with the Denver Nuggets. Fortunately for everyone involved, there does seem to be a measure of sparks flying around in the negotiation process with the restricted free agent.
Tucked away in a Shams Charania report that the Nuggets would be signing free-agent guard Lonnie Walker IV is the note that Denver is engaging in active sign-and-trade talks with the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and L.A. Clippers. It was previously noted that the Nuggets are looking for at least one quality rotation player and a first-round draft pick in exchange for Watson. At the moment, these seem to be the only teams keenly interested in acquiring Watson. Though, none of them have yet to submit a formal offer sheet that would require the Nuggets to respond within 48 hours.
Still, the mere implication that Denver is at least somewhat listening in sign-and-trade conversations means this whole situation finally appears to have some good forward momentum. Be it in Watson leaving Denver or obtaining enough leverage to get the contract he wants from the Nuggets.
More from ESPN:
The Nuggets remain in active trade talks with multiple teams on a potential Watson sign-and-trade, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers, sources told ESPN. Watson also holds a one-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer that would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.

#milwaukee #bucks #cleveland

The last remaining Denver Broncos unrestricted free agent has found a new NFL home.
Five months after initially hitting free agency in March, veteran center Sam Mustipher has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to the NFL's transaction wire. Jacksonville will mark the 29-year-old lineman's sixth NFL club.
Mustipher was called on late in the 2025 season and again in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs after the Broncos had multiple injuries at the position. Luke Wattenberg is currently nursing an injury, but he's set to start in 2026 with Alex Forsyth, Michael Deiter, Gavin Ortega and Calvin Throckmorton providing depth behind him this summer.
With Mustipher back on an NFL roster, only Denver's six ex-practice squad players whose contracts expired in March remain street free agents.
QB Ben DiNucci (SFA)

#jacksonville

The Los Angeles Lakers' roster for the upcoming NBA season is largely set, but they would love to add a starting-caliber wing or forward by the end of the summer. Their options as far as doing so aren't exactly great, however.
They have been in pursuit of Jonathan ***** inga, the 23-year-old 6-foot-8 forward who has plenty of untapped potential, but it looks like they cannot come to terms with the Atlanta Hawks on a sign-and-trade deal. As the summer has moved along, it has seemed more and more like ***** inga simply won't end up with the Lakers, and that perhaps he isn't the player who will sufficiently solve their need for a starting wing or forward.
Los Angeles may therefore have to think outside the box. According to Christian Clark of The Athletic, the Dallas Mavericks have explored trades involving Klay Thompson, who has spent the last two seasons with them, and Clark also wrote that Thompson would like to come to Los Angeles.
"At this point, it remains unclear if Klay Thompson — the Mavericks' leading 3-point shooter in each of the past two seasons — will be back in Dallas for a third year. The Mavericks have explored his trade market but have yet to find a deal, multiple sources with rival teams told The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss any potential negotiations. Thompson is owed $17.5 million this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.
"My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home."

#thompson #summer #kuminga

For obvious reasons, the Arizona Cardinals running backs room has garnered a significant amount of interest and discussion in the first two weeks of training camp.
It's to be expected.
After a brutal 2025 season in which James Conner and Trey Benson managed to play only a combined seven games, Michael Carter finished the year as the team's leading rusher with a total of 333 yards, followed by Emari Demercado with 312 and Bam Knight with 269.
Carter and Demercado moved on to other team, while Conner (with a pay cut), Benson and Knight returned. Tyler Allgeier was signed as an unrestricted free agent in March and six weeks later Jeremiyah Love was selected with the third overall pick in the draft.
Allgeier revealed earlier this week that head coach Mike LaFleur told him about the team's plans in advance and LaFleur said Friday he also spoke with Conner.

#knight

Today in Boston Celtics history, in 2005, the team signed Brian Scalabrine during free agency. The native of Enumclaw, Washington, entered into a five-year contract with the Celtics valued at $15 million.
An alum of the University of Southern California, Scalabrine, often called the "White Mamba," was selected 34th overall in the NBA Draft by the then New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets). He played four seasons with the Nets before joining the Celtics as an unrestricted free agent. Scalabrine spent an additional five seasons with the Celtics, contributing to the team's championship victory in 2008. He later transitioned to the Chicago Bulls, where he concluded his playing career.
He then tried his hand at **** istant coaching and broadcasting, where he still works today with NBC Boston Sports.
It was also on this date that former Celtics center Greg Stiemsma left the team in free agency to join the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played his college ball at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and spent time overseas and in developmental league play before joining Boston late in 2011. Stiemsma would play just one season with the Celtics, averaging 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. It was enough to get him on Minnesota's radar, where he would play one more season of his four years in the NBA.
Today is also the day that the team sent forward Antoine Walker to the Miami Heat for Curtis Borchardt, Qyntel Woods, Albert Miralles, and two future second-round picks in 2005. Miralles would subsequently be dealt for Keyon Dooling and additional draft **** ets as Walker's second stint with the Celtics would draw to an end. He logged 16.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.7 **** ists, and 1.2 steals per game that past season.

#Nets #free #play

The Kelsey Plum era is over in Los Angeles. The Sparks are sending the five-time All-Star to Phoenix in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, the Mercury's 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder, league sources confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN was first to report.
The Sparks traded the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft (which became All-Star Dominique Malonga) to acquire Plum in the 2025 offseason in an attempt to end their rebuild and get to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. That plan didn't pan out: Los Angeles came up two games short of the postseason in 2025, and Plum's lower leg injury in 2026 dug the Sparks a hole they could not get out of.
At 10-17 and 5 1/2 games out of a playoff spot, Los Angeles is pulling the plug on this season, and that means moving on from Plum, who will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Plum has only played 12 games in 2026, but is second in the league in scoring (23.9 points per game) and sixth in ***** ists (6.4). She is arguably the most efficient No. 1 option as a guard in the league — her field-goal percentage only trails A'ja Wilson among top-10 scorers — and she has also been a secondary (even tertiary) scoring option on a two-time ***** le team in Las Vegas.
As reported by The Athletic, the sense from executives around the league was that Plum wouldn't re-sign in Los Angeles, forcing the Sparks' hand to trade her and recoup some of the value they lost in acquiring the five-time All-Star guard. Even so, there have rarely been trades involving all-WNBA players during the season. The last time it happened was in 2015 when the Chicago Sky dealt Sylvia Fowles to Minnesota. The Lynx ultimately won the championship that season and Fowles was named finals MVP.
This is a developing story and will be updated.

#angeles #star #Athletic

The North American automotive industry is facing a dramatic change in the operational environment this year, which is marked by increased financing barriers and ongoing consumer price sensitivity. Since average auto loan interest rates are still more than 8%, consumers are delaying expensive discretionary upgrades, extending payment terms, and challenging aggressive price hikes. Legacy OEMs have been forced to give up unrestricted EV capital expenditure targets because of the sharp slowdown amid an overall shift to electric vehicles. That said, not every auto manufacturer is performing on the same level, with General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) serving as a case study on these dynamics.
General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) produced an exceptional second-quarter performance that showed impressive operational discipline in the face of this demanding macroenvironment. Strong pricing power and unit volume across its high-margin full-sized pickup and SUV categories, such as the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Tahoe, drove GM's $48 billion quarterly revenue. Due to this legacy strength, North American operating margins reached 8.6%, which boosted adjusted earnings per share to $3.57 and resulted in a 41% year-over-year increase, significantly above Wall Street estimates.
Importantly, General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) showed that its multibillion-dollar effort to streamline its EV division and properly size battery joint ventures is producing immediate financial results, allowing executive leadership to raise full-year adjusted operating income (EBIT) guidance to between $14 billion and $16 billion.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) had a much more divided operating narrative. Despite exceeding consensus estimates with adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 and matching GM on top-line revenue at $48 billion, underlying segment performance revealed ongoing structural friction. Due to enterprise fleet demand and high-margin software subscriptions, Ford Pro, the company's commercial branch, continued to be a high-margin cash engine. However, the company's electric vehicle division, Model e, recorded a sharp $1.26 billion quarterly operational loss, severely undermining these gains.
Based on a comparative valuation ******* ysis, here is a clear disparity between market price and operational execution. General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) carries an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.01x and a discounted forward price-to-earnings ratio of 5.96x. In comparison, while experiencing significant margin pressure from its Model E division and ******* embly delays, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) trades at a higher forward P/E of 7.88x and an increased EV/EBITDA multiple of 19.76x.

#NYSE #ford #billion #price