u/DynastyInProcess

Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-late-night-nba-intel-14a?r=nuq3a&utm\_medium=ios

The Stein Line has been advised by sources briefed on the situation to classify an extension for Magic swingman Anthony Black as unlikely at this current juncture.

Sources say that the sides have not engaged in any meaningful extension dialogue to date — not during the offseason or even since training camps began — because the Magic have concerns about the long-term financial obligations they have already stacked up by signing Jalen Suggs to a lucrative extension in addition to frontcourt stalwarts Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and summer of 2025 marquee trade acquisition Desmond Bane.

All of which means Black, barring a shift in the state of negotiations over the next week-plus, could well have to face restricted free agency next summer despite his rising stature.

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Sources say talks between Wallace's camp and the Thunder, meanwhile, have begun in the $25 million range in annual average value ... inspired by recent signees such as Atlanta's Dyson Daniels (an All-NBA defender like Wallace) and Denver's Christian Braun.

Can Wallace ultimately secure a new contract that pays more than $25 million annually? How far shy will the pact ultimately land compared to George's new five-year, $158 million deal in Utah? Sources say those are key questions to be resolved in these final negotiation stages.

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One more important Knicks topic: Rival teams continue to describe McBride as a likely trade candidate as the season unfolds given the uncertainty surrounding his own Knicks future.

McBride's $3.9 million salary for 2026-27, given the minimal salary that would take to match, is bound to generate interest from teams between now and the Feb. 11 trade deadline that want to acquire the 26-year-old before he hits free agency next June 30.

Clip: https://streamable.com/1ugk2j

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nba-media-day-updates-2026-2027-lebron-james-sixers/NzlkK7n44Ybx/?unlocked_article_code=1.ElE.4zv1.YKLPJtygEy1_&source=user_shared_liveblog&smid=ta-ios-share

LeBron "I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round, I know that"

Source: https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania

All-NBA center Jalen Duren is not attending Detroit Pistons media day Monday nor the start of training camp, declining the team’s five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed offer in restricted free agency so far, sources tell ESPN. The sides remain at a stalemate ahead of Thursday deadline on a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer.

Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/more-of-the-latest-late-night-nba

Now can Powell, 35, actually make the team when the Mavericks already have the maximum 15 standard contracts?

League sources tell The Stein Line that the Mavericks have conveyed to Powell that they intend to make a true effort to explore pathways to keep the team's longest-tenured player active (dating to December 2014) even though it is difficult to see one at the moment. Dallas' most sheddable salaries, if we can use that term, are possessed by a trio of players management very much wants to keep: Tarik Biberović, Marcus Sasser and Moussa Cissé.

Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7621957/2026/09/23/bucks-gary-trent-jr-nba-investigation-kawhi-clippers-comparison/?unlocked\_article\_code=1.DVE.YJdH.f8-r6qGtLCbD&source=user\_shared\_article&smid=ta-ios-share

If league investigators find proof that the Bucks and Trent are guilty of what the Clippers and Leonard were guilty of, the punishment could be equally severe, if not worse.

An NBA spokesman said the league’s investigation into Trent’s contract is ongoing and declined to answer further questions. The Bucks and Klutch Sports Group — Trent’s representing agency — have declined comment, but two sources with direct knowledge of the interviews taking place as part of the investigation said both the Bucks and Klutch are cooperating.

The NBA hired national investigations law firm Hecker Fink to examine the circumstances surrounding Trent’s contract. The league typically hires white-shoe firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz for work like this, but two concurrent cap-circumvention cases are atypical.

The details that caught the NBA’s attention regarding Trent’s deal are this: Trent, 27, had signed two prior contracts for much less money with Milwaukee amid the previous two summers of 2024 and 2025 (including for the league minimum in 2024). There were player options attached to both deals, and he declined them both, setting up larger paydays. The first was a modest increase, with his 2025-26 salary jumping from $2.6 million to $3.7 million. Then, in the run-up to his new contract, which will pay him more than $15 million annually, he muddled through his worst statistical campaign since his rookie campaign from eight years ago. Trent averaged 8.1 points on 39 percent shooting in 21 minutes per game.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7618603/2026/09/21/jalen-duren-pistons-contract-extension-nba/?unlocked\_article\_code=1.C1E.dp4Y.qVae-ptNhgAr&source=user\_shared\_article&smid=ta-ios-share

Barring another change in the talks, per league sources, Duren might be missing in action when the team reconvenes in Detroit. The team holds its media day on Monday and would have two days of training camp before the Oct. 1 qualifying-offer deadline arrives. The Pistons have the ability to push the deadline back, but it remains unclear if they have any plans to do so if needed. They could also engage with teams regarding sign-and-trade scenarios, but they have been staunchly resistant to that possibility throughout the offseason.

While taking the qualifying-offer route would allow Duren to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, it comes with substantial risk. There’s the omnipresent health factor, the reality that he would spend the entire season auditioning for his next contract, and the historical fact that players typically don’t leave this amount of guaranteed money on the table.

Still, Duren’s confidence is born out of the fact that his market for next summer looks quite robust. As The Athletic previously reported, the Sacramento Kings have signaled a willingness to pay him a max-salary deal next summer. That alone has aided his leverage, but there are at least two other teams — including the Milwaukee Bucks — that are known to have serious interest in Duren (both now and, potentially, next summer).

Video clip: https://streamable.com/j19cuk

The Detroit Pistons have recently offered Jalen Duren a 5-year, $200 million contract. Detroit and Duren remain at an impasse. Duren has felt disrespected by Detroit since becoming extension eligible and being offered a $20 million “take it or leave it” deal.