u/ShaiFanClub

>Following the blockbuster Jaylen Brown trade, there are those within league circles wondering if New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III will be the next big trade domino to fall. 

>Before this past trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers called to express interest in trading for Murphy, as previously reported by HoopsHype. 

>Some teams have faded from the Murphy trade conversation. Indiana got Ivica Zubac before the trade deadline. Portland acquired Ja Morant. San Antonio went to the NBA Finals and has since agreed to deals with forwards Harrison Barnes and Tobias Harris in free agency. The Lakers just made a flurry of offseason moves. 

>Teams that are in the mix for Murphy to varying degrees now are the Celtics, Pistons, Warriors, Clippers, and Hawks, league sources told HoopsHype. 

>The Celtics have monitored Murphy’s trade market, and following the Brown trade for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks, they have gained extra draft capital that New Orleans has desired in any trade talks. 

>The Pistons have consistently circled the wagons on Murphy in trade talks, but felt the price was too high. With the asking price dropping from the equivalent of four to three first-round picks in any Murphy trade talks recently, will Detroit have more of an appetite to make a trade following the loss of Tobias Harris in free agency?

Source: https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/07/02/nba-intel-jaylen-brown-trey-murphy-jalen-duren-jonathan-kuminga-anfernee-simons-tobias-harris-knicks/90786339007/

There is a “growing belief” from teams competing to sign LeBron James that him returning to the Cavs is the “scenario to beat,”

Source: https://substack.com/home/post/p-205077918

>“Another team with widely reported interest, the Trail Blazers, similarly did not join the chase. A Blazers team source said the Blazers were never enamored with Brown, even before Boston made it known he was available on the trade market. Two factors went into the Blazers’ disinterest: Their analytics viewed him as a negative player and the Celtics’ asking price was too high.” “We were never aggressively looking to trade for him,” a team source said. “And particularly not at their price.”

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7418310/2026/07/03/jaylen-brown-celtics-inside-trade-pov/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.u1A.4imt.Ylz4hz13N4Xc

>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.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7415227/2026/07/01/lakers-luka-doncic-post-lebron-james-offseason-moves/?unlocked_article_code=1.ulA.XFVM.Ju5tuOr5QIUD

>The Celtics trading Brown is a bet that Pritchard is their in-house version of New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, a diminutive player who didn't fully show his talents until Luka Dončić was out of the picture. The splits on Pritchard without Brown are intriguing to say the least. (26.7 ppg per 75 possessions with 5.3 rebounds, 7.6 assists on 60.6% TS and 39.3% from 3 in 861 minutes)

>In 10 games this season without Brown in uniform, Pritchard elevated his game to all-league levels. The 28-year-old averaged 25.2 points, 7 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 51.3% on 2s and 44.4% on 3s. Notably, the Celtics went 8-2 in those games. 

>By moving off Brown, the Celtics aren't saying they think Pritchard is the better player. They're making the presumption that Pritchard is the better player relative to his contract. 

>In a league with a salary cap, the Celtics have to maximize their talent under the constraints of the collective-bargaining agreement. Brown is set to eat up about 35% of the cap in each of the next three seasons, earning $57.1 million next season, $61 million in 2027-28 and $65 million in 2028-29.

>Meanwhile, Pritchard is signed at a bargain rate at $7.8 million for 2026-27 and $8.3 in 2027-28. It may be the single-best contract from a value standpoint in the entire league. In 2026-27, Brown will make more in one month than Pritchard will make during the entire season.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/did-the-celtics-give-away-jaylen-brown-why-analytics-dont-see-phillys-new-star-as-elite-of-elite-004011270.html

After weeks of reports indicating progress toward a new contract, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer now believe a deal between the Warriors and veteran center Kristaps Porzingis could be finalized at any moment before free agency officially opens.

For a Golden State team determined to rebound after a disappointing exit in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament, retaining Porzingis would preserve one of the few frontcourt bright spots from the second half of last season.

Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/lots-more-of-the-nbas-latest-trade