The Warriors were among the frontrunners for LeBron James’ services because of his relationship with Draymond Green and Stephen Curry. However, Golden State were left with nothing as the King surprised everyone by joining the Sixers, who are now among the top favourites to win next season’s NBA championship, per the updated NBA 2026 odds. Because of this, the Warriors will have the same roster as they had last season, so they’ll enter the 2026-27 campaign with low expectations.
Elsewhere, the Clippers and Raptors have yet to confirm the blockbuster trade they pulled off involving Kawhi Leonard, who’s embroiled in legal controversy during his time in Los Angeles. And the Wizards have been recently linked to one of the league’s top free agents, as they continue to rebuild their roster.
Today, SBOTOP has you covered with some of the notable NBA 2026 updates.
Warriors get criticism for planning to run it back
After signing head coach Steve Kerr to a two-year contract, the Warriors pursued LeBron James this summer, hoping to recreate the Stephen Curry-LeBron James partnership that won an Olympic gold medal for the United States in 2024. It’s a match made in heaven on paper, as Curry is the ideal recipient of James’ famous kickout passes for open three-point shots.
Golden State faced uncertainty this summer after failing to qualify for the playoffs in 2025-26. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. had to choose between stripping down their current roster to start rebuilding or making the most of Stephen Curry’s last few years with the franchise by building a win-now team.
Dunleavy opted for the latter by re-signing Kristaps Porzingis, Gary Payton II, De’Anthony Melton, Al Horford, and Charles Bassey to new contracts (instead of letting them go). They also used the No. 11 pick of this summer’s NBA Draft to get Yaxel Lendeborg, who just won a national title with Michigan. Quinten Post left for the Grizzlies, while Draymond Green opted out of his $27 million player option (to maybe sign for less money) in a bid to lure James.
However, as mentioned, James ultimately chose the Sixers because they had a stronger team on paper. But at least Green subsequently agreed to a one-year, $27.7 million deal.
Leonard trade still on hold due to legal issue
The Clippers made one of the stunning trades this summer by sending Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple future draft picks. However, the deal is paused because the NBA is investigating whether the Clippers previously circumvented salary cap rules.
Both teams want the deal to push through for different reasons. For the Clippers, it’s about starting fresh after they didn’t win anything with the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George tandem in the early 2020s. This past season, they’ve gotten younger with the notable acquisitions of Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, who’s currently a restricted free agent. For the Raptors, it’s about welcoming back their prodigal son, who took them to the Promised Land in 2019 while expediting their championship timeline. A trio of Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett could cause some noise in the competitive Eastern Conference.
But the trade can only proceed if Toronto assume the risk of any penalties resulting from the ongoing probe involving Leonard and his supposed ties to bankrupt company Aspiration, which allegedly gave the two-time Finals MVP a $28 million endorsement contract. According to reports, the investigation could drag on until 2027, creating more uncertainty for Los Angeles and Toronto heading into training camp.
Wizards reportedly plan to add another veteran
The Wizards are determined to be relevant again this upcoming season, which is the reason they’ve been among the busiest teams this summer. First, they used their No. 1 pick to take AJ Dybantsa from BYU in one of the most stacked draft classes in recent memory. Then, they traded for Deandre Ayton and brought back Khris Middleton via a sign-and-trade. In return, they parted ways with Jaden Hardy and D’Angelo Russell.
Washington also signed Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million contract earlier this month. And a few days ago, the Wizards were linked to DeMar DeRozan, who’s still looking for a new home after coming to a buyout agreement with the Kings.
DeRozan is coming off yet another productive campaign, averaging 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 49.7-per cent shooting from the field across 77 regular-season appearances. However, the Wizards are not the only ones interested, as DeRozan was also linked to the Cavaliers, Heat, and Nuggets.
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