NBA News
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Kevin Durant Eyes Final Chapter With Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant told Sports Illustrated he hopes to finish his career with the Houston Rockets — "that's the intent," he said — after being moved from Phoenix in a seven-team deal. The 37-year-old arrives on an expiring $54.7M contract and the Rockets can extend him up to two years/$122M; roster moves and the team's decision on Tari Eason could influence timing and structure. Merlin sees a player chasing stability late in a legendary run. Durant's wish to "be solidified in a spot" and his desire to "go back to Texas" fit Houston's contender window, but front-office juggling and cap math mean the extension will likely be short and strategic — enough to keep Durant in Houston while preserving flexibility. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Durant signs a 2-year extension with the Rockets before the regular season: 65%.
Kevin Durant: Westbrook Reunion Would Be "Dope" for Rockets
With Fred VanVleet sidelined by a torn ACL, the Rockets are weighing all options and Kevin Durant said he hasn’t heard directly from Houston but that Russell Westbrook in town "would be dope." The reunion would tap an eight-year Thunder history, but Westbrook remains unsigned after a 2024–25 season of 13.3 points and 6.1 assists and poor three-point shooting (32.3%), raising real fit concerns. Merlin sees the appeal and the danger. Ime Udoka’s hinted playmaker-by-committee (Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Alperen Şengün plus Durant) could be strained by Westbrook’s play style and past role friction; his experience helps short-term, but the Rockets must choose spacing and cohesion over nostalgia. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Westbrook signs with Houston this season: 25%.
Hornets Waive Spencer Dinwiddie in Surprise Move
The Hornets will waive Spencer Dinwiddie, Shams Charania reports, after signing him in July and finding themselves with 16 players on standard contracts ahead of the regular season. The move is notable because Dinwiddie averaged 11.0 points and 4.4 assists in 79 games last year and would have bolstered depth behind LaMelo Ball. Spotrac noted Pat Connaughton was another candidate, but his expiring $9.4M salary gives Charlotte a midseason trade asset. Merlin sees this as a calculated wager. Keeping Connaughton preserves trade flexibility; waiving Dinwiddie signals confidence in Tre Mann as the primary backup and faith in Ball’s availability. If Ball misses time, the Hornets may be forced back into the market for veteran playmaking — a test of whether this was shrewd roster management or a risky gamble. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Charlotte needs to add a veteran guard before the All‑Star break: 60%.
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Giannis to Pistons? Bucks' Blockbuster Trade Offer
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future flared into training-camp drama after Shams Charania reported his interest in the Knicks and Giannis said it would be “human” to change his mind. The article argues that superstars don’t always get their first choice and lays out a realistic alternative: Detroit could pursue Giannis with a package of Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and multiple future firsts, giving Milwaukee draft capital and youth to rebuild while turning the Pistons into immediate contenders. Merlin sees the logic: an East suddenly thin with injuries makes a Cade Cunningham–Giannis pairing a fast track to title contention, and Milwaukee’s lack of assets makes a reset tempting. Still, fit, chemistry and Giannis’s own preferences mean this is a thrilling possibility, not an inevitability. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis being traded to the Detroit Pistons this season: 18%.
Bucks Bet Big: AJ Green Gets 4-Year $45M
Merlin sees Milwaukee locked in AJ Green with a four-year, $45 million extension, per Shams Charania. The undrafted guard from Northern Iowa averaged 7.4 points in 73 games last season, shot a startling 42.7% from deep, and could move from bench spark to regular rotation. The deal is affordable (about $11.25M AAV) and gives the Bucks a cheap, floor-spacing piece as they juggle dead money from the Damian Lillard buyout. Merlin senses this is a low-risk, high-upside play: Green’s range fills a clear need, but roster and cap pressures — with Giannis’ contract situation and commitments to Turner, Kuzma and Portis — mean Milwaukee must balance short-term contention and long-term flexibility. If Green sustains his shooting, he forces matchup problems and could quietly become a starter; if not, the contract is manageable. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of AJ Green starting 50+ games this season: 40%.
Giannis Trade Talks Roil Bucks, Entice Knicks
Merlin hears that August talks between the Knicks and Bucks about Giannis Antetokounmpo fizzled — New York checked in, Milwaukee pushed back and, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst relayed, teams asking “Are you open to negotiations with Giannis?” received a resounding “no.” Shams Charania adds the Bucks “preferred not to move Antetokounmpo,” making this more rumor than real shift — but the chatter matters because Giannis is still the franchise’s center of gravity and any wobble in Milwaukee will reignite trade fever. Merlin sees motive and theater: the Knicks remain the obvious suitors if Giannis ever wants out, but Milwaukee would only entertain moving him if the championship window slammed shut or he demanded it. Treat this as a simmering spell — quiet now, noisy again if the Bucks stumble. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis requesting a trade this season: 15%.
Trae Young Declares: "I'm Not Done in Atlanta"
Trae Young sparked trade chatter during a playful Instagram Q&A with Adam Lefkoe that mimicked LeBron’s “Second Decision” tease — only to unveil a Crooked Tea partnership and insist, “Dude, I’m not done with Atlanta, I love Atlanta.” That matters because Young is eligible for a four‑year, $229 million extension and could become a free agent in 2026 if he declines his option, so even lighthearted moments feed heavy speculation about his long‑term fit with the Hawks. Merlin sees this as theater with a purpose: a public calm that masks real leverage. Atlanta and Young head into the season (Oct. 22 vs. Toronto) with signals of stability, but roster moves, results or a star‑making playoff run could rewrite plans. For now it’s a wink, not a departure. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Trae Young signs the four‑year, $229M extension this offseason: 35%.
NBA GMs Slam Apron Rules After Celtics Overhaul
GMs are pushing back on the second-apron era. In an NBA.com survey, 26 percent of GMs said "roster construction" needs changing, citing the "too harsh" apron rules, a desire for a draft-player cap discount, partial-salary trades and equalized minimums. The apron already shaped the offseason: Boston saved roughly $300 million by moving Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis and declining vets, Minnesota reworked contracts and traded Karl‑Anthony Towns to avoid the apron, and a few teams sit perilously close to the first apron — the Rockets $1.3M under it, the Mavericks only $51,000 under last season. Merlin sees a law meant to tame big spenders like Ballmer and Lacob now squeezing everyone else, forcing odd trades, withheld signings and roster gymnastics. If one team ever opts to forfeit rather than trigger penalties, the league will have to listen — change is brewing, not guaranteed. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the NBA tweaks apron rules before the 2026 CBA talks: 30%.
Cavs' Jarrett Allen on Trade Radar
Teams are quietly "monitoring" Cleveland’s start to the season to see whether Jarrett Allen might be shopped, a sign that rival GMs value his rim protection and efficiency — he shot an NBA-high 70.6% last year while averaging 13.5 points and 9.7 rebounds and starting all 82 games. That matters because moving Allen would reshape the Cavs’ frontcourt and the Eastern Conference pecking order, yet Cleveland just gave him a three-year extension and remains a title contender after a 64-win season. Merlin sees tension in the pairing: Evan Mobley’s long-term future looks like center, but Allen’s durability and shot-blocking are rare currency. If the Cavs stumble and the fit feels awkward, phone lines will light up; if they hum, the rumors vanish like smoke. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cleveland trading Jarrett Allen this season: 20%.
Cuban Denies Mavericks' Nowitzki Salary-Cap Scheme
The Mavericks’ Mark Cuban pushed back hard on claims the team skirted NBA rules when Dirk Nowitzki re-signed in 2014, calling the theory “nonsense” on Pablo Torre’s podcast. Critics pointed to Magnolia Pictures — which Cuban co-owned — buying distribution rights to a Nowitzki documentary as a way to funnel extra cash while Dirk took a steep pay cut that helped Dallas sign Chandler Parsons. Torre noted the Magnolia deal was actually $100,000, and even if there had been wrongdoing it didn’t change the team’s on-court struggles. Merlin sees a familiar old-league pattern: aging stars often accept less — Cuban said Dirk “wanted Tim Duncan money” — to give teams flexibility. This smells more like uneasy storytelling than a secret cap heist. Still, the episode highlights how gray-area deals from the past will keep stirring curiosity. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Dallas facing any retroactive punishment over the 2014 Nowitzki deal: 5%.
Mavericks Bet Big: Cooper Flagg at Point Guard
The Mavericks opened a preseason door to something unusual: No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg running the point with D’Angelo Russell out and limited Kyrie Irving availability, a lineup mix that included PJ Washington. That matters because Dallas lacks guard depth early on — Flagg’s move to ball‑handler is a practical test to see if his playmaking can cover real rotation minutes. Merlin sees a rookie showing flashes rather than finished spells: Flagg averaged 4.2 assists at Duke and 3.5 in two preseason games, and Jason Kidd said, "We want to look at him handling the ball, want to put him in different situations" and praised that "I thought he made a lot of great reads tonight," while warning "there's gonna be some turnovers." If those turnovers shrink, the Mavs get a versatile floor general; if not, it will be a learning leash. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Cooper Flagg serves as Dallas’s primary ball‑handler for meaningful stretches this season: 30%.
Kawhi, Aspiration Deal Sparks Clippers Salary-Cap Probe
Merlin sees the NBA vetted and approved a $300 million Clippers–Aspiration sponsorship in 2021, months before Aspiration signed Kawhi Leonard to a four‑year, $28 million deal that's now at the center of a salary‑cap circumvention probe. The report notes owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration; he denies directing Leonard’s deal. Aspiration co‑founder Joe Sanberg has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, and Commissioner Adam Silver first said he “never heard of the company Aspiration before” then acknowledged being “aware of the brand.” The league is investigating after teams submitted the jersey‑patch arrangement for review. Merlin notes the league’s own rules — “Teams vet their own sponsorship partners,” the NBA said — make this both a basketball and governance story. Proving intentional cap circumvention is difficult, but the federal fraud admissions and corporate links create a rare overlap of legal and league consequences. Expect long hearings and heavy scrutiny of how sponsorships touch payrolls. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the NBA hands the Clippers a major penalty (loss of picks or voided deals): 35%.
Al Horford's Tough Choice: Celtics to Warriors
Al Horford admitted "It wasn't an easy decision for me to leave Boston" after signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the Golden State Warriors. The 39-year-old — coming off a 9.0/6.2/2.1 season with 42.3/36.3/89.5 splits and a +11.5 net rating — is expected to slide in as Golden State’s starting center, giving them veteran defense, perimeter shooting and playoff-proven steadiness after helping Boston win the 2024 title. Merlin sees a veteran hand offered at a crucial table. Horford won’t chase stats; he brings spacing, pick-and-roll savvy and calming leadership that could free Stephen Curry and the backcourt. Golden State’s other moves (Payton II, Melton, Kuminga) show they want depth now — Horford may be the quiet hinge between good rotations and true title noise. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Horford helps the Warriors reach the Western Conference Finals this season: 30%.
Kuminga Keeps Control, Signs Two-Year $48.5M with Warriors
Merlin sees the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga ending a months‑long stalemate with a two‑year, $48.5 million agreement that includes "a team option designed for the contract to be ripped up and renegotiated next summer." Kuminga chose this over a reported $75 million, three‑year offer to secure "a higher level of control over his immediate future," and his return lets Golden State sign the rest of its offseason additions after he skipped media day and camp. Merlin notes the deal is a careful dance: Kuminga locks in extra money — roughly $15M more than his qualifying offer for 2025‑26 — while Golden State keeps flexibility. After a 15.3‑point season and a 20.8 playoff burst vs. Minnesota, he has bargaining power; this pact buys time for both sides to see how his role and value evolve. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Warriors rip up and renegotiate Kuminga’s deal next summer: 70%.
Giannis Favored Knicks; Bucks Trade Talks Fizzled
Merlin sees a clear pulse: Giannis Antetokounmpo and his camp named the New York Knicks as his "only" preferred destination during offseason checks, and Milwaukee and New York held August talks that never gained traction. The Bucks reportedly preferred not to move him and felt the Knicks "did not make a strong enough offer." Giannis also raised "serious questions" to GM Jon Horst about Milwaukee’s title chances after the playoff exit. Merlin notes Milwaukee tried to soothe the oracle by waiving Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner, but the first quarter of the season "will hold significant weight." New York being on Giannis' radar matters — even limited assets keep them relevant if trade talk resurfaces. If Milwaukee stumbles early, the pressure will quickly become a storm. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis requesting a trade this season: 30%.
Giannis, Brown, Zion: Bold Trade Targets for Every NBA Team
Merlin sees the 2025–26 NBA season opening under a cloud of trade fever: the piece offers ambitious but believable targets for every club — Jaylen Brown to Atlanta, Walker Kessler to Boston, Lauri Markkanen to Detroit, potential suitors for Giannis, plus buy-low opportunities like Coby White and Jonathan Kuminga. That matters because a single blockbuster could rewire title odds and free-agent math across the league. Merlin notes teams want fits more than flash — rim protectors, 3-and-D wings and playmaking guards top the shopping lists. As Tim Kawakami warned, "they're trying to maintain every asset... ready once and if the Giannis... market heats up." Expect soft probing early, then sudden storms if a contender stumbles. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Giannis is traded this season: 20%.
Miami Heat Lock In Nikola Jović: $62.4M, 4-Year Deal
Merlin sees the Miami Heat locking up Nikola Jović with a four-year, $62.4 million extension — a clear bet on upside after the 22-year-old showed scoring and shooting growth in 2024-25 (10.7 PPG, 45.6% FG, 37.1% 3PT) and lit up EuroBasket. The deal matters because Miami is buying controlled cost for a player who could blossom into a reliable wing if he can stay healthy. Merlin senses the move is prudent: low-risk, team-friendly insurance that buys development time. Coach Erik Spoelstra said, "I'm really excited for Niko... Every time he comes back to us, he comes back more mature." If Jović breaks the injury spell, he becomes a rotation staple; if not, the Heat still kept flexibility. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Jović becomes a regular starter next season: 55%.
B/R Top 100: Jokić Reigns, Shai Surges
Bleacher Report unveiled its human-panel Top 100 for 2025-26 — a season-opening snapshot built on votes, not analytics. Nikola Jokić sits atop the list unanimously, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis close behind. B/R excluded major injured players and promises regular in-season re-rankings, so this is a starting map that will shift with health, trades and performance. Merlin sees this list as a crystal ball scratched at the edges: proven stars anchor the top while young, ascending names and role players wait for the right fits to cast upward. Expect a few surprise climbs (and tumbles) as teams jigger rotations and injuries test depth — the preseason order is only the first whisper of the season’s true story. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Nikola Jokić wins a fourth MVP this season: 35%.
Quentin Grimes Locks In with Sixers — $8.7M After Breakout
Quentin Grimes is returning to the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer that includes a no-trade clause. He broke out after arriving in February, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 25 starts while shooting 46.9% overall and 37.3% from three — numbers that matter because they give the Sixers immediate scoring and versatility while Jared McCain recovers from thumb surgery. Merlin sees this as a tidy, short-term bet: Grimes accepted an audition that preserves his freedom and the team’s flexibility — his agent pushed for bigger multi-year offers, but the no-trade clause shows Grimes wants control. If he sustains that late-season form alongside Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, he becomes either a core rotation piece or a valuable trade asset; health and consistency will decide which. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Philadelphia making the playoffs this season: 55%.
Mark Cuban: Knicks' Brunson Penalty Too Light
Mark Cuban says he’s moved past losing Jalen Brunson to the Knicks in 2022 but remains displeased with the NBA’s response after the Knicks were penalized a 2025 second‑round pick for early contact. On Pablo Torre’s show Cuban said, "I don't know, I just think there was a lot at play there," and added, "Was I happy that they only got dinged for a second‑round pick? No... it should've been far worse." The dispute matters because it touches on salary‑cap rules, team trust, and league discipline. Merlin sees a pragmatic owner shifting attention to Dallas’ future — a 2024 Finals run, a messy season after trading Luka, and new hope with No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg — yet still watching league punishments like a sorcerer watches omens. Cuban’s ire is dimmed, not extinguished; he will notice similar sparks. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Cuban publicly escalates the Brunson penalty this season: 15%.
Giannis, LeBron, Zion: 5 Trade-Request Watchlist
Bleacher Report picks five household names who could push for exits this season — Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Jonathan Kuminga, Domantas Sabonis and Zion Williamson — and lays out the why. Giannis may not wait if the Bucks falter despite roster moves; LeBron’s offseason silence and Rich Paul’s “Thanks for the memories, even if they weren't all great” line leave L.A. uncertain; Kuminga disliked a team‑option deal after waiving his NTC; Sabonis said he'd “seek clarity” amid Sacramento’s chaos; and Zion could grow tired of the Pelicans’ lack of supporting pieces. These are moves that would ripple across title races. Merlin sees a league of fragile windows and heavy levers: teams buy time, but stars hold the switch. A January restriction lift, a midseason slide in Milwaukee, or another quiet text from a disgruntled star could spark a chain reaction — expect sparks before silence. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Zion Williamson requesting a trade this season: 45%.
Lakers: Forget Walker Kessler, Trust Ayton
Merlin hears that Walker Kessler "will not reach an agreement on a rookie-scale contract extension," putting him on track for restricted free agency in 2026 and nudging Utah toward listening on trades. That matters because the Jazz can still match offers and "highly value [him] and see him as a cornerstone to the future," so any deal for Kessler won’t come cheap. He’s a rim-altering force who weakens away from the paint, and the Lakers already filled the center need by adding Deandre Ayton. Merlin sees a simpler path: don’t overpay for a specialist priced like a centerpiece. Let Ayton settle, build chemistry, and only circle back if the fit fails or the price softens near the deadline or next summer. Patience, not panic, is the smarter spell. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the Lakers trade for Walker Kessler this season: 20%.
Steve Kerr’s Future Uncertain — Warriors’ Win-Now Gamble
Merlin sees the Warriors admitting a quiet uncertainty around Steve Kerr’s long-term future even as he enters the final year of a two-year deal. GM Mike Dunleavy said Kerr "can stay as long as he wants" and the team will "go on Steve's terms," giving him the season to judge his mental and physical readiness. That matters because Kerr is the spine of a franchise built into a modern dynasty; any change would ripple through Golden State’s win-now plans. Merlin notes Kerr called himself "very comfortable" with one year left, yet the true pivot is the roster — Stephen Curry is signed through 2026-27 and Draymond Green has a 2026-27 player option. If those pillars drift, the coach who won four titles here may choose to follow. For now the front office is patient; the clock on this era quietly ticks. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Kerr still coaching the Warriors in 2026-27: 60%.
Giannis 'Locked In' With Bucks Amid Knicks Trade Talk
Reports surfaced that the Knicks held trade talks with the Bucks about Giannis Antetokounmpo in August, but Milwaukee and New York "never got traction on a deal." Giannis pushed back on the chatter, saying "First of all, I haven't read that story" and insisting "I'm locked in" with the Bucks for now. That matters because his decision shapes Milwaukee’s championship window after three straight first-round exits and only modest roster tweaks this summer. Merlin sees a ruler choosing to stay while watching the horizon. The statement buys time and steadies a franchise that added Myles Turner, yet the oracle notes Giannis is "human" and has a 2026–27 player option — poor results or playoff frustration will reopen doors. This season is the crucible. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Giannis requesting a trade this season: 20%.