NBA Offseason Trade/Free Agent Rumors 2026: Seven teams eyeing Jaylen Brown, Kawhi to Toronto for Ingram?

We’re just a little more than 48 hours before the official start of NBA free agency (although let’s be honest, teams have got a lot of their roster-building work done already, including things yet to officially happen). The rumors are flying fast. Here are some of the latest around the NBA.

Seven teams interested in Jaylen Brown

At least seven teams have stepped up with interest in trading for Brown — the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks and LA Clippers — reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. He also confirms previous reporting that Houston is not in the mix.

Portland comes up a lot in rumors, but they will not put All-Star Deni Avdija in a trade (which also was true around the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors), and to this point have not been willing to put Toumani Camara or Donovan Clingan in the deal, but it likely would take one or both (and more) to get the deal done, Scotto reports. He adds Portland wants to put Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson in the deal.

He also says that talks with the Hornets have cooled and the Clippers were always a long shot.

Raptors talking with Clippers about Leonard

It’s been difficult to tell exactly how serious the Clippers are about trading Kawhi Leonard, if at all. Reportedly, owner Steve Ballmer doesn’t want to trade him, but if contract extension talks stall out — as they are rumored to be doing — then a trade may be in play.

The Raptors have had “real trade conversations” with the Clippers in the past couple of days, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer. Toronto would like to make the heart of this deal Brandon Ingram for Leonard, but the Clippers are reportedly more interested in RJ Barrett and others. It’s all something to watch.

Jokic, Nuggets delay extension talks

Nikola Jokic is extension-eligible this summer. However, just like last summer, the two sides have decided to postpone those talks, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

That does not mean Jokic is considering leaving Denver, he has “reiterated a desire to stay long-term in Denver in recent talks,” reports Scotto at Hoopshype. This echoes what Jokic himself made clear at the end of the season.

Both Jokic and Denver realize they have a lot of work to do on the roster to compete with Oklahoma City, San Antonio and the other teams at the top of the West. One priority is re-signing Peyton Watson. Also, a number of Nuggets have been mentioned as possibly being traded, including Christian Braun, Jonas Valančiūnas, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Cam Johnson. We could see Denver take a big swing for a player like Jaylen Brown. Whatever it is, Jokic will be a part of it and the sides will figure out the money later.

Increasingly, it feels like Mitchell Robinson will be the odd man out in New York. There is just no way to bring back the entire roster and meet owner James Dolan’s line in the sand of not crossing into the second apron (Robinson alone likely makes enough to put the team over at this point).

Robinson talked about the possibility of returning to New York as a free agent during an interview with WGNO (via New York Basketball):