Western Conference · Pacific · 111 updates
With Jonathan Kuminga off to Minnesota, the Lakers still have an open starting spot, and Yahoo's Jacob Rude lists five ways they could fill it: P.J. Washington, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, Ben Simmons and internal option Adou Thiero.
Saturday, August 29 at 4:00 pm Central is the cutoff for teams to waive a player and stretch his guaranteed 2026/27 cap hit, since the current CBA requires the player to clear waivers before September 1.
+2With Jonathan Kuminga signed in Minnesota on a two-year, $12.4 million deal, Los Angeles is floated as a suitor for Sacramento's De'Andre Hunter, who is on an expiring $24.9 million contract.
+2After missing out on Jonathan Kuminga, who signed a two-year deal in Minnesota, the Lakers are left searching for two-way wing and frontcourt depth behind Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney.
Nick Richards signing with Miami leaves New York, carrying only 13 standard contracts, still hunting frontcourt help, and Ben Simmons is raised as an option.
Gabe Vincent is drawing interest from Sacramento and a possible Miami reunion, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Vincent turned down an Atlanta offer to stay after a midseason trade from the Lakers, per Fischer.
Marc Stad has agreed to buy Marc Lore's controlling stake in the Timberwolves at a $4.5 billion valuation, and three blockbuster ideas are proposed for the new owner.
Sacramento general manager Scott Perry traveled to Florida to watch Ben Simmons work out, according to Carmichael Dave, who said Simmons was one of several players on Perry's evaluation list.
Sacramento is stretching what's left of DeMar DeRozan's $10 million salary, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports. That leaves him on the Kings' books at roughly $3.33 million a year for the next three seasons. DeRozan signed a one-year deal with Denver last week.
Two free agent moves anchor the latest episode of The Dunker Spot: Klay Thompson signing with Miami and DeMar DeRozan heading to Denver.
