The Warriors are the one group that hasn’t made a roster transfer since free company started, and so they’re in all probability caught till the Jonathan Kuminga state of affairs is resolved, cap skilled Yossi Gozlan explains in his Third Apron column (subscriber hyperlink).
Golden State is believed to have offers in place with Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, however these signings can’t be finalized whereas Kuminga continues to be in the marketplace. If the Warriors use their taxpayer midlevel exception, they may develop into exhausting capped on the $207.8MM second apron. That creates a chance for a group to open up cap area and make a proposal to Kuminga at near $30MM per yr, which Golden State wouldn’t have the ability to match.
Gozlan views a sign-and-trade as the perfect final result for either side, however he provides that if the Warriors wind up re-signing Kuminga, they’ll doubtless wish to preserve his wage within the $22MM to $23MM vary. That permits them to make use of the MLE and add three extra gamers on minimal contracts whereas remaining under the exhausting cap.
There’s extra from the Pacific Division:
- After a powerful Summer season League efficiency, it seems like rookie Nique Clifford will have the ability to assist the Kings immediately, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Clifford was a First Crew All-Summer season League choice, and group officers imagine he’s versatile sufficient to deal with both guard spot in addition to small ahead. Anderson provides that Isaac Jones and Devin Carter additionally confirmed that they’re prepared for bigger roles, whereas rookie heart Maxime Raynaud will enter camp with an opportunity to develop into the first backup heart.
- What’s subsequent for Lakers ahead LeBron James as he enters his twenty third NBA season? Marc Stein tackles that matter in his newest Substack article, speculating that the 2025/26 season might be James’ final with the Lakers however not his final as an NBA participant, although he makes it clear that’s extra of a “gut-feel learn” than exhausting reporting. Stein provides that he thinks James has some “real curiosity” concerning the thought of taking part in in Dallas, although he and his household are “extraordinarily settled” in Los Angeles.
- Jared Butler‘s new one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Suns is a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 deal, however doesn’t embrace Exhibit 10 language, Hoops Rumors has realized. That means Butler doubtless received’t be taking part in for Phoenix’s G League group if he doesn’t earn a spot on the common season roster.
