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The Denver Nuggets intend to match any offers for restricted free agent Peyton Watson when the NBA’s moratorium lifts on Monday, said league sources who were granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing negotiations.

However, the Nuggets and Watson’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, remain apart in contract negotiations, the sources told The Athletic, and Denver is open to a sign-and-trade for the 23-year-old forward. As we’ve seen several times this offseason, the rules relating to restricted free agency have created a challenging landscape for players in that position.

While it’s unclear how many teams are pursuing Watson, only the Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers have the salary-cap space to submit the offer sheet he wants. The Clippers, league sources said, have shown legitimate interest in Watson but are also navigating their own restricted free agency situation with Bennedict Mathurin, which complicates matters. Several teams are known to have registered interest in a sign-and-trade for Watson.

Around the league, there has been a widespread belief that the Nuggets would be motivated to avoid the second apron by shedding salary this summer. But as The Athletic reported in June, Denver’s ownership has not given its front office, which is led by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, a mandate to cut costs. That messaging has become even more meaningful in recent days, as the Nuggets are considered to be among the teams still in the running for unrestricted free agent LeBron James (who, coincidentally, is also represented by Paul).

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424278/2026/07/05/nuggets-peyton-watson-update-restricted-free-agency-nba/?source=user\_shared\_article&unlocked\_article\_code=1.vlA.yeSx.VeD7UhB6BD8N

The Minnesota Timberwolves have ramped up their push for LeBron James, with full belief that they are very much in the hunt to land one of the greatest players in NBA history, league sources told The Athletic.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations, said the Timberwolves have been in contact with James’ representatives with a bold pitch: team up with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to go after the kind of championship that could end any discussion about who is the greatest player of all time.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7420800/2026/07/03/lebron-james-timberwolves-free-agent-rich-paul/?source=user\_shared\_article&unlocked\_article\_code=1.vFA.1RGR.PJ7gULRNA\_uQ

Lakers free agent forward Rui Hachimura also remains unsigned as the league proceeds to a third full day of free agency.

The markets for Kuminga and Hachimura, in truth, seem to be overlapping somewhat at this juncture.

Sources say Hachimura was very much in play for San Antonio before Tobias Harris rejected an offer to return to the Detroit Pistons. Harris and the Spurs swiftly agreed to a two-year, $31 million deal after San Antonio and Brooklyn were most frequently mentioned as likely Hachimura suitors before free agency officially began Tuesday at 6 PM ET. (The Nets, for the record, should still have an estimated $13-to-$23 million in available salary cap space defending on the final form of the trade they complete next week to acquire Julius Randle from Minnesota.)

As the market has developed, sources say Hachimura's representation has now been in contact with Minnesota and Golden State as well. The Timberwolves have a well-chronicled need for a power forward after committing to trade away Randle and Naz Reid so they can pair LaMelo Ball with Anthony Edwards and Hachimura is said to stand as their current top choice at the position.

https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/yes-late-night-intel-with-all-of?r=1m9zg&utm\_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=solid

While the team isn't done with its roster build — as we reported yesterday, the Lakers are looking at wings, with Jonathan Kuminga high on that list — its moves have received a thumbs up from the locker-room presence that matter most.

According to league sources, Luka Dončić was "excited" about the Lakers' signings, with the team addressing his biggest desires for the roster by keeping Austin Reaves and getting an elite rim-protecting center in Kessler.

Those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals have not been completed, said the Lakers kept in regular communication with Dončić and his team despite a significant time gap, with the star guard spending his summer in Europe.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nba-free-agency-2026-live-updates-reaction-news-rumors/cFmfEjapdzzC/?unlocked_article_code=1.uFA.a6qs.o5S21pz40diL

To the actual player, Kessler fits a position and service of need for the Lakers. 

The conversation should start with defense, as Kessler has been a tremendous interior defender since he stepped into the league. He's averaged at least two blocks per game in all but one season — his most recent one, when he played five games and only averaged 1.8.

Per Cleaning The Glass, opposing offenses have taken a lower share of shots at the rim with Kessler on the floor. They've been less efficient at the rim with Kessler on the floor in all but last season's five-game sample. There's legitimate rim protection and deterrence with him.

One of the quieter subplots of Kessler's Utah stint — and the Will Hardy era as a whole — is that the Jazz have been pretty liberal with shifting coverages. While Kessler is at his best in a drop, he's been asked to do wildly different things throughout his career.

Most notably, he switched nearly 22% of the pick-and-rolls he defended during the 2024-25 campaign (fifth among centers to defend at least 500 picks) and was at the level (or higher) on over 40% of the pick-and-rolls he defended before going down last season.

Of course, there's a difference between being asked to do different things and being proficient at different things, but the (late) switching piece in particular feels important.

Under JJ Redick, the Lakers have been among the switchiest teams in the league. Arguably more pressing, they simply haven't been a team that's wanted to put two-on-the-ball — the first-round series against the Thunder notwithstanding.

To mask their lack of high-level rim protection, they've paired their switching with aggressive gap help. This year, they married all of it together with a hybrid-zone look that often threw opposing offenses for a loop. With Kessler in the building, the Lakers may be able to mix in "softer" coverages with him on the backline, allowing the switching, gap help and zone usage to feel more like complements than necessities.

Raising the floor and ceiling of the defense should give the offense more room to breathe. In theory, having Dončić and Reaves should lock you into a high-level unit when they're available. Kessler should help pry them open with screens, and their cadence as drivers should give Kessler time to roll and make himself available.

Kessler's experience spacing on the wing — not to shoot, but to act as a release valve and handoff hub — should provide some secondary value to the half-court offense and enhance its flow a bit.

On Grimes, Mamu, Sexton:

Grimes and Sexton are willing shooters (though there's room for more aggression from Sexton), competent drivers against tilted defenses and capable self-creators when called upon.

Mamukelashvili is a quality connector due to his rare combination of ball skills and passing vision as a big. I'd also keep an eye on the initiation capabilities for Mamu; because he's comfortable making plays, we've seen him have the freedom to grab-and-go after misses.

While none of the three profiles as a high-level defender, there's a do-your-job element to each that could slot in well enough here.

Sexton lacks positional versatility, but it wouldn't shock me if the Lakers ramp up their pick-up points with him on the floor. He can bother guards with early pressure and activity, though it's worth monitoring his recoveries after navigating screens. Grimes generally fares better against wings than smaller guards, but he's largely been a competent defender throughout his career.

I've had my questions about Mamu defensively; he's not a traditional rim protector, and things have been dicey for him in space in the past. He felt more at home during his Raptors stint; I was particularly intrigued by some of the comfort he displayed when operating at the level or mixing in hedges (0.8 PPP allowed on those possessions, postseason included).

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The team, according to league sources who were granted anonymity to freely discuss the Lakers’ offseason moves, is still seeking a young wing to help its perimeter defense. A high-upside swing receiving significant consideration, per league sources, is former Golden State Warrior and Atlanta Hawk Jonathan Kuminga, whose $24.3 million team option was recently declined by Atlanta.

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Numerous rival teams have conveyed to The Stein Line that they essentially consider Toronto free agent Sandro Mamukelashvili and Philadelphia free agent Quentin Grimes as off the board because they regard both players as destined to sign deals with the Lakers that will start in the ballpark of $10 million in average annual value.

https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/lots-more-of-the-nbas-latest-late?r=1m9zg&utm\_medium=ios

The Minnesota Timberwolves have precious little money to spend and a freezing cold winter waiting ahead, which makes luring LeBron James in free agency one of the longest of long shots.

With a player as talented and cerebral as James is, and a spot in their starting lineup that fits him perfectly, the Wolves had to at least let him know they would love to have him in Minnesota. And that’s exactly what they are doing. After James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would not be returning and would instead seek out another team to play for next season, the Wolves were one of several teams to reach out Tuesday and express interest in bringing James aboard, team and league sources that spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations told The Athletic.

The Wolves would be silly not to ask now James is on the open market. They have a roster teeming with young talent headlined by Anthony Edwards, plenty of defenders to ease his burden on that side of the floor and an opening at power forward after trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid to help make room for their acquisition of LaMelo Ball.

The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have all been mentioned as preferred landing spots for James. The Wolves do not believe they’re anywhere near the front of the line for James’ services, the team and league sources said, especially considering their lack of spending power.

Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has proved to be one of the league’s most aggressive executives since coming to Minnesota in 2022, so it comes as no surprise they are letting James’ camp know they are interested.

If James is prioritizing a chance at a fifth championship over money, the Timberwolves can make a compelling argument. James has long been a fan of Edwards, and the two won Olympic gold together in Paris last summer.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7410378/2026/07/01/lebron-james-minnesota-timberwolves-free-agency/?source=user\_shared\_article&unlocked\_article\_code=1.uVA.tzLi.B-ZV0apXSRN6

Celtics move Jaylen Brown in a sign and trade for Walker Kessler and Lauri. Jazz end the Kessler dilemma and have Ainge reunite with Jaylen Brown.