The Celtics’ blockbuster decision to trade Jaylen Brown wasn’t easy to make, with owner Bill Chisholm admitting he needed to be “convinced” to move on from the franchise star.
Peyton Watson’s $88m Cleveland move, James Harden’s looming contract decision and major updates on Jonathan Kuminga and DeMar DeRozan also headline a busy day around the league.
All of this and more in the latest edition of NBA Daily.
CELTICS OWNER ADMITS HE NEEDED ‘CONVINCING’ OVER BROWN BLOCKBUSTER
Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm has admitted he needed to be convinced before signing off on the blockbuster trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston agreed to trade Brown to its Eastern Conference rival in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, bringing an end to the 29-year-old’s decade-long tenure with the Celtics.
Brown had become one of the faces of the franchise during that time, making the decision particularly difficult for Chisholm, who acknowledged his emotions as a fan initially made it tough to accept.
“I needed to be convinced,” Chisholm said.
“I truly believe we have the best front office in the NBA, and I think it’s a source of advantage for us every day. So I definitely have a level of trust in Brad and his team.
“But man, as a fan, that was tough.
“I really needed to be convinced to take the fan passion out of it, because I’m a super fan.”
Chisholm said his faith in Celtics president Brad Stevens and Boston’s front office ultimately allowed him to separate his attachment to Brown from what the organisation believed was the right basketball decision.
“You have to be a sociopath if you don’t worry a little bit about what other fans are going to think,” he said.
“We’ve got the best brains in basketball, and this was something they had conviction around.”
The deal sees Boston move on from one of the defining players of its recent era while receiving veteran star George and significant draft capital in return.
But in doing so, the Celtics have also strengthened one of their biggest Eastern Conference rivals, with Brown joining a Philadelphia side that has already made a blockbuster move to acquire LeBron James.
It leaves the 76ers armed with two of the biggest names of this NBA era as they look to emerge as a major threat in the East.
For Boston, it only adds another layer to an already enormous gamble, with the Celtics not only moving on from a franchise cornerstone but potentially helping create another contender they could have to go through in their pursuit of another championship.
CAVS LAND $88M RISING STAR AS NUGGETS’ $500M PROBLEM REVEALED
The Cleveland Cavaliers have landed rising wing Peyton Watson in a blockbuster multi-team trade, continuing a major reshaping of the roster following their run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Cleveland acquired Watson from the Denver Nuggets, with the 23-year-old agreeing to a new four-year, $88 million deal that includes a player option and trade kicker.
The move comes after a career-best season for Watson, who averaged 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 41.1 per cent from three across 54 games for Denver.
However, it was his production when given greater offensive responsibility that offered perhaps the biggest glimpse into his potential.
In games without Nikola Jokic last season, Watson averaged 22.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks, while making 2.3 three-pointers per game at an impressive 44.3 per cent from beyond the arc.
It continues a significant roster reshuffle for the Cavaliers, who have moved Max Strus and Dennis Schroder over the past week while adding Watson and Cam Whitmore.
Watson now projects to slot straight into an imposing Cleveland starting five alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
The deal eventually expanded to include four teams, with the Los Angeles Clippers acquiring Strus while Cleveland also landed Whitmore from Washington.
Denver received Julian Reese, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a second-round pick, while Washington received Tre Mann, a 2027 second-round pick and cash.
For those wondering why Denver wouldn’t simply keep Watson at $22 million a season, the financial reality was far more complicated.
That $22 million salary would have reportedly sent the Nuggets’ luxury tax bill soaring from around $68 million to more than $220 million, leaving Denver facing a near $500 million bill between payroll and tax.
It was ultimately a price the Nuggets weren’t prepared to pay to keep the 23-year-old.
For Cleveland, though, Watson is the headline addition and the Cavaliers are making a significant bet that the 23-year-old can build on his breakout season with an even larger role on an Eastern Conference contender.
HARDEN SET TO STAY WITH CAVS… BUT WHAT WILL NEW DEAL LOOK LIKE?
James Harden is expected to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a new multi-year deal, with the veteran star’s patience potentially proving crucial to the franchise landing Peyton Watson.
Harden has remained unsigned throughout free agency after deliberately delaying a new agreement with Cleveland to give the Cavaliers greater financial flexibility to make another significant roster move.
That move has now arrived.
Cleveland has landed Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a blockbuster four-team trade, with the 23-year-old agreeing to a four-year, $88 million deal.
With Watson secured, Harden is now expected to finalise a new multi-year agreement to remain in Cleveland.
The intrigue now surrounds exactly what that contract will look like.
By acquiring Watson via sign-and-trade, Cleveland has become hard-capped at the first apron. Watson’s four-year, $88 million contract could begin at approximately $20.5 million next season, potentially leaving the Cavaliers with around $25.9 million available for Harden’s first-year salary.
Cleveland could potentially create further breathing room through additional roster moves, including waiving and stretching Tre Mann.
Whatever the final figure, Harden’s decision to wait could prove significant.
Rather than immediately signing when free agency opened in June, the 36-year-old gave Cleveland the flexibility it needed to pursue a major addition before sorting out his own future.
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LAKERS EMERGE AS FAVOURITES AS KUMINGA MARKET SHRINKS
Jonathan Kuminga’s free-agent market appears to be rapidly shrinking, with the Los Angeles Lakers increasingly looming as the most realistic destination for the talented young forward.
The Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers had emerged as the three main teams in the running for Kuminga, but Cleveland now appears effectively out of the race after acquiring Peyton Watson from Denver and handing him a four-year, $88 million deal.
That potentially leaves Los Angeles and Minnesota fighting for Kuminga’s signature, with the Lakers appearing to hold the stronger hand.
Los Angeles has been linked with the 23-year-old throughout the summer and reportedly offered Kuminga a deal worth around $10 million annually, with the opportunity to start alongside Luka Doncic.
However, Kuminga and his camp have reportedly been seeking closer to double that figure, resulting in a stalemate that has stretched throughout free agency.
His options are now becoming increasingly limited.
Minnesota can reportedly offer only its $6 million taxpayer mid-level exception, potentially giving the Lakers an opportunity to land Kuminga for significantly less than the forward was originally seeking.
A sign-and-trade involving the Atlanta Hawks has also reportedly been floated as another avenue that could eventually deliver Kuminga to Los Angeles.
The Lakers have already used much of their available cap space after adding Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes this offseason, meaning finding the right financial structure remains a key part of any potential agreement.
But with Cleveland now committing heavily to Watson and Minnesota financially restricted, Kuminga’s list of alternatives is getting shorter.
And after spending much of the summer waiting for his market to develop, the former Warriors forward could now find that Los Angeles is his clearest path forward.
NUGGETS ‘DETERMINED’ TO LAND SIX-TIME ALL-STAR
With Peyton Watson now headed to Cleveland, the Denver Nuggets have reportedly turned their attention to six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan as they look to reshape the supporting cast around Nikola Jokic.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Denver now has “its eyes directed” on DeRozan following the decision to trade Watson to the Cavaliers rather than commit to his new four-year, $88 million deal.
Brett Siegel has since reported the Nuggets have been in talks with DeRozan and are determined to find a way to get a deal done with the veteran scorer.
DeRozan remains one of the biggest names available in free agency after being waived by the Sacramento Kings earlier this offseason.
The 37-year-old is reportedly seeking a deal worth somewhere in the $10-15 million range from a championship contender, with Denver now emerging as a serious potential destination.
The Nuggets’ decision to move Watson has given them greater flexibility to continue reshaping their roster, while also landing a potentially valuable future first-round pick in the deal.
Despite being in the latter stages of his career, DeRozan would give Denver another proven shot creator and one of the NBA’s most accomplished mid-range scorers alongside Jokic.
Miami has also been linked with DeRozan, although the Heat are reportedly holding their available exception money in the hope of landing Klay Thompson should he become available from Dallas.
That could further open the door for Denver, with the Nuggets seemingly wasting little time turning their attention to another major addition after Watson’s departure.
WESTBROOK REJECTED TWO-YEAR OFFER BEFORE SHOCK RETIREMENT
Russell Westbrook reportedly had opportunities to extend his remarkable NBA career before ultimately deciding to walk away from the game on his own terms.
The 37-year-old had offers from both the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards before announcing his retirement, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Washington reportedly made Westbrook a two-year offer that would have seen the former MVP return to the franchise he represented during the 2020-21 season.
However, NBA insider Marc Stein reports it was Westbrook, rather than the Wizards, who ended negotiations after apparently being unhappy with the specific terms of the offer and/or the role being presented.
“League sources tell The Stein Line that Washington made a two-year offer to bring Westbrook back to the nation’s capital,” Stein reported.
“Sources say Westbrook – not the team – is the party that ended those talks.”
Westbrook also reportedly had an opportunity to remain with Sacramento but wasn’t fond of the prospect of playing a reduced role behind Darius Acuff Jr.
Rather than accept either opportunity, Westbrook ultimately decided to retire, with Charania reporting the nine-time All-Star wanted to “step away from the game on his own terms”.
The decision brought an end to one of the most unique careers in NBA history, although former teammate Patrick Beverley believes Westbrook still had plenty left to offer.
“I felt like he had a lot of game left,” Beverley said.
“I feel like he played really well last season. I think the media killed his game.
“I think the media is so strong that it allowed fans to call him names and have opinions about his game, which also forced team owners, GMs, and presidents to look at him a certain way.”
Westbrook retires as a former NBA MVP, nine-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion, while also holding the league’s all-time record for triple-doubles.
HEAT ‘DESPERATE’ TO LAND KLAY AS BUYOUT WATCH INTENSIFIES
The Miami Heat are reportedly making Klay Thompson their priority as uncertainty continues to surround the four-time NBA champion’s future with the Dallas Mavericks.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Heat are “desperate” to land Thompson, with Miami emerging as a leading destination should the veteran sharpshooter become available.
Thompson remains contracted to the Mavericks, meaning any move to Miami would first require Dallas to trade him or agree to a buyout.
However, the interest appears to be mutual, with Ethan Skolnick reporting Thompson is open to joining the Heat if he becomes available.
Miami’s pursuit could also have ramifications for its other offseason targets.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the Heat currently have 12 players on standard contracts and are holding exception money for Thompson rather than using it to pursue DeMar DeRozan.
“The Heat has 12 players on standard deals; the 13th would go to Thompson if Dallas buys him out and he agrees to terms,” Jackson reported.
DeRozan and former Heat guard Gabe Vincent are among the other players to have received consideration, but Thompson has emerged as Miami’s priority.
For now, though, the Heat are playing the waiting game, with Thompson still a Maverick and Dallas holding the key to whether the five-time All-Star becomes available.
BEAL RETURNS TO CLIPPERS ON NEW TWO-YEAR DEAL
Bradley Beal is returning to the Los Angeles Clippers, with the veteran guard agreeing to a two-year, $13.2 million deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The deal includes a player option for the second season and gives Beal another opportunity in Los Angeles after an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign.
Beal played just six games last season before suffering a hip fracture that brought his campaign to a premature end.
Now the three-time All-Star will look to put his injury troubles behind him as he returns to the Clippers for another season.
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