We’ve reached the point in the offseason where the rumors are more speculation about what will happen as we get closer to the start of training camp — or once camp opens — than they are about things that might happen in the near future. With that framing in mind, here are the latest rumors flying around the NBA — and some advice from Chris Bosh to Victor Wembanyama.
The problem is pretty straightforward: The Dallas Mavericks have 16 players under guaranteed contracts but can only carry 15 into the season. Someone has to be traded or waived.
Klay Thompson and his $17.5 million contract are at the forefront of that, reports Christian Clark of The Athletic.
The Mavericks have explored his trade market but have yet to find a deal, multiple sources with rival teams told The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss any potential negotiations… My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer.”
Los Angeles? The Lakers are an unlikely landing spot, unless the Mavericks want two years of Jarred Vanderbilt plus another contract (Dalton Knecht?), but the Lakers have 16 guaranteed contracts on the roster and are hard-capped at the first apron, so they can’t take on a lot of salary. The Clippers remain in limbo until the Kawhi Leonard/Aspiration investigation comes to its eventual conclusion — which may well be into the start of the season, or even 2027 — and the fit isn’t great anyway.
Miami, like other teams, is not really engaging Dallas at this point, hoping that Thompson gets bought out and they can snap him up on a minimum (or close to it) contract.
The Kings are rebuilding, starting with rookie Darius Acuff, and one thing that is clear is that Zach LaVine is not part of that long-term future. However, with LaVine in the final season of a massive contract paying him $48.9 million this season, good luck finding a trade.
Does that mean a buyout is coming? No, according to Kings insider James Ham on the Locked on Kings podcast. Both the Kings and LaVine agree on that, Ham reports.
The sides are looking for a trade, but with that huge salary, a deal is unlikely. The most likely outcome is the two sides stick together through the February trade deadline, and if no trade happens then, they might revisit the buyout conversation.
One other Kings note: Don’t expect them to trade Domantas Sabonis, either. Part of that is his huge contract (two years, $94.1 million remaining), but also having a veteran center to work pick-and-rolls, as well as dribble hand-offs, with Acuff will help accelerate his growth.
Chris Bosh on his health, Wemby
Chris Bosh was forced out of the NBA much too young due to blood clot issues in his legs. That hasn’t changed, the Hall of Famer told Sam Yip of HoopsHype he nearly died earlier this year from the condition.
“I almost dropped dead pretty much and came back to life. I’m not joking. Yeah. I had another pulmonary embolism. It was in January. Yeah, yeah, this past year. I was in the hospital for a week… I thought I was past it. I am not.”
Victor Wembanyama missed the end of the 2024/25 season due to something very similar, deep vein thrombosis, although in his shoulder. While Wembanyama was medically cleared and played all of last season without issue, Bosh had advice for the young Spur.
“Take your medicine. Make sure that he’s staying on top of his regimen to make sure that doesn’t happen again because it only takes one more time. It happened one more time for me, it happened twice, and I couldn’t play anymore. So I guess with him, just making sure he does everything necessary to keep that blood as thin as possible and take care of that body off the court.”
Just a little training camp note for everyone, via Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.
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