NBA Chaos Continues Through Summer: What's Denver Up To? Nothing, Thanks for Asking...

This season might not feature a plethora of superstar free agents, but it's far from dull. Through trades and other maneuvers, we've witnessed major stars change teams and potent new rosters form, poised to contend for the next championship. What we haven't seen yet, however, is where the league's most famous forty-year-old plans to continue his career, but we'll get to that as the summer progresses.

Here's a rundown of the most significant moves teams have made in the eight days since the free agency period officially opened. It's impossible to cover everything, so the focus is on what's objectively most attractive. Or at least what I found most attractive... either way, let's dive in.

Many considered the Houston Rockets strong title contenders last season after acquiring Kevin Durant. A top-tier scorer of his caliber was expected to perfectly complement the young "Rockets" led by Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and others. His veteran presence and still-prolific scoring touch were, all things considered, a guarantee for a deeper playoff run.

Fate, however, had other plans. Late last summer, the team's only reliable guard, Fred VanVleet, suffered a severe injury and was forced to miss the entire season. Without VanVleet, coach Ime Udoka was forced to improvise with Thompson, an elite defender and athlete but not a skilled ball-handler, and young shooter Reed Sheppard as makeshift solutions. These handicaps would have been enough on their own, but the season also saw a scandal emerge involving Durant's private messages insulting teammates, as well as an injury to New Zealand strongman Steven Adams. It's no wonder, then, that the playoff stay for the '94 and '95 champions was short-lived.

While the summer in North Texas could have been turbulent, with rumors swirling about a team "breakup" and Sengun being traded, the club's management decided to stay put and simply reinforce the existing core. VanVleet recovered and exercised his $25 million option, and two more proven guards arrived as free agents – Marcus Smart and our own Bogdan Bogdanović. One for each side of the court, so to speak.

Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, has played for several teams since leaving Boston, doing the unpopular "dirty work" in the backcourt. Before the Rockets, he played for the Lakers, where he made a solid impression, which still didn't prevent him from being surplus to requirements in the latest roster reshuffle in the City of Angels. His job will be to bring stability and defense off the bench.

Bogdanović, on the other hand, is emerging from arguably the toughest period of his NBA career. The Serbian international spent much of last season battling a hamstring injury and falling out of favor with coach Tyronn Lue, who sporadically gave him playing time. The result was Bogdan's statistically weakest competitive cycle, where he recorded negative career lows in almost every category – games (23), minutes (19.7), field goal percentage (38.8%), three-point percentage (34.7%), points (7.4)... in short, a season to forget.

The Serbian captain will have the opportunity to turn over a new leaf in Houston in grand style. After signing a veteran minimum contract (around $3.5 million gross), Bogdanović will likely take on the role of a shooter and secondary playmaker off the bench. The Rockets desperately needed someone who could create points for himself and others when the offense stalled, and the club's management saw the solution in the former Partizan and Fenerbahçe player.

With a recovered VanVleet (who, by the way, could easily be traded for something else if the situation demands it), and with Smart and Bogdanović, the Rockets' backcourt rotation presents a much more serious challenge for opponents. Much, of course, will depend on Durant, who is getting older, and on his chemistry with the others, as well as Alperen Sengun's commitment, but on paper – this team should perform better in the spring of 2027.

It was long known that Kawhi Leonard's days in Los Angeles were numbered. The excellent swingman arrived in Los Angeles as a major acquisition in the summer of 2019, after winning a championship in Toronto, but we saw very little of him in action. In seven seasons with the Clippers, he played only 331 games – when he was healthy, he performed as expected, but often he was either not healthy (missing the entire 2021-22 season due to injury) or the club management accommodated him with rest (the now-popular "load management").

However, it wasn't Leonard's inconsistent health that sealed his fate, but rather the scandal that erupted when it was revealed the Clippers had been paying him "under the table" (i.e., through a fictitious company) to avoid tax penalties. The entire past season was played under the shadow of this case, so it was logical that the two sides would part ways before a more serious problem arose.

It didn't take long for a team in the league to react, and Leonard's former club made the most attractive offer. The package from Toronto, which included Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and several draft picks, was appealing enough for the Clippers, who are looking to enter a rebuilding phase. On the other hand, the Raptors gained the superstar they needed to seriously challenge for the Eastern Conference throne.

With Leonard, Toronto acquires a serious two-way player, as Americans would say. His defense will perfectly complement the already well-structured team defense, and he will bring an additional dimension to the offense. The Raptors' offense was quite modest last season, largely depending on the performance of the aforementioned Ingram and Scottie Barnes, who isn't primarily an offensive player. Kawhi will open new horizons for them – provided, of course, that his health holds up.

And speaking of the Canadian team, it's worth mentioning that our Darko Rajaković, the head coach of the "dinosaurs," has had his contract extended for another three seasons. The Čačak native succeeded in his goal of transforming Toronto from a lottery team into a stable contender for something more, and he put up a tough fight against Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs last spring. Now the expectations are higher, but the roster is also more talented.

One of the strangest pieces of trade deadline news was that Jaylen Brown was leaving the Celtics.

No, not because he left. It was more or less known that a split was coming after poor Brown was put on the trade block last spring and used as bait for Giannis Antetokounmpo. When Giannis ended up in Miami, the Celtics were left with a disgruntled Jaylen, and a solution became inevitable. It was only a matter of time; everyone knew a trade was imminent.

Yet, no one expected Jaylen Brown to be traded...

To a divisional rival (the Philadelphia 76ers) who eliminated them in the previous playoffs.

For Paul George and a couple of first-round picks.

In this NBA economy, where even players like Desmond Bane can command four first-round picks, it was shocking to see Boston send a player who received MVP votes last season for an aging George and only two future draft selections.

How did we get here? Insiders say Brown was offered to everyone, and no one was interested, and that what the Sixers offered was actually the best deal. Brown was "too points-oriented," "too focused on individual performance," "not compatible enough with Jayson Tatum," "an analytically unproductive player"... we heard all sorts of stories about a player who single-handedly pushed the Celtics to the top of the East without Tatum when a rebuilding season was expected, and, as I already wrote, was in the MVP discussion. Not a serious one, but he was there.

What did Boston get in return? At a press conference hosted by President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, Celtics officials justified the decision by citing economic considerations – greater financial flexibility, a better future, and so on. Then, of course, there's Paul George – once a big name, now a player who arrives after playing 78 games for the Sixers in two seasons, bringing a medical record full of notes and stamps, and a contractual obligation of over a hundred million dollars for two seasons (which I'm not sure how financially flexible that is in the short term, but Stevens knows better than I do). We should note, however, that the second season is covered by a player option, but it's hard to believe that a thirty-seven-year-old veteran would turn down $50+ million just like that. Perhaps they can entice him into a multi-year reconstruction? We'll see.

And what do the Sixers get? Oh, they get a proven scoring machine that will relieve the pressure on dynamic young guards Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, and further stretch the floor for Joel Embiid's operations in the paint. A team that looks very, very, very intriguing on paper and will be interesting to watch.

Speaking of Boston, they also made two smart signings – Mitch Robinson arrives from the champions as a proven rotational center, and veteran Mike Conley will use his experience to bolster the backcourt, which needs a similar profile.

Two teams have radically decided to change their rosters: Memphis and Charlotte. Both, until recently, had young "aces" whose futures looked bright – and now both will continue their careers outside the cities that brought them into the league.

Ja Morant's departure is not a huge surprise. The explosive point guard, who came to the NBA via Murray State University, had long worn out the patience of the Grizzlies, who endured a million and one of his whims. When Morant was in the mood for basketball, everything looked pretty good, but his final years in Tennessee were marked by conflicts with the law, the league, and now with Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo.

Still, Morant's move to Portland is somewhat surprising. The Blazers didn't necessarily need a player at that position, considering they already have Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, and a recovered Dame Lillard, and ultimately Deni Avdija, who spends a lot of time on the court with the ball in his hands. Even less did they need a character who has recently been more known from tabloids than for basketball – as if the scandal involving former coach Chauncey Billups, accused of various frauds, hadn't brought them enough trouble.

So, something intrigued Portland to embark on this adventure and give a second chance to a player who was reportedly rejected by almost every team in the league – even Sacramento said they weren't interested, and if the Kings don't want you, that's a serious stain on your resume. The price they paid wasn't exorbitant – Jerami Grant and reserve forward Kris Murray, so no future picks. What the vision in Oregon actually is remains unknown, beyond the fact that they can now create a nice "package" if something on the market appeals to them. For Memphis, it's already clear; they just wanted to get rid of the headache.

Charlotte had long tied its future to LaMelo Ball, an eccentric young point guard with excellent court vision and lucid playmaking ideas. However, new winds are blowing in North Carolina, and the popular Melo was traded to Minnesota for Naz Reid and future draft capital.

At first glance, this doesn't make much sense, as he's a rising young star. On second thought, let's just say that Ball, like Morant, had worn out the patience of his parent club's management, and the Hornets were ready to move on without the drama he brings. Ball had a high usage rate in Charlotte (17.3 shots per game, including 10.3 threes) and rather poor percentages (40.7% from the field, 36.8% from three), and there were also big question marks regarding his health and physical fitness. In his six-year NBA career, he played just over fifty games per season, insufficient for a projected franchise player.

How LaMelo Ball will fit with Anthony Edwards, who is both a high-usage player himself and a proven hater of unengaged personnel, is an excellent question. Ball will have to significantly rationalize his approach to the game to endear himself to "Ant," who certainly won't have much tolerance for watching Ball launch difficult step-back threes and similar antics. In theory, this could be quite effective and attractive; in practice, well... let's wait and see.

The Hornets, by the way, also sent Miles Bridges to Phoenix as part of this clear-out. The author's opinion is that the only jersey that suits Bridges is the striped one worn in correctional facilities for adults, but hey, at least Charlotte thanked him.

Nothing, thank you for asking. They let Tim Hardaway Jr. go to Miami, they're weighing their options with Jonas Valančiūnas (perhaps that will be resolved by the time you read this), and they missed out on all the possible "hot" trades that happened. Nikola Jokić said he's renewing his contract next year and would stay in Denver for the rest of his career, and... that's it. Modest, but what can you do – in the Kroenke family, people only fear two things: death and the tax inspector. And I'm not even 100% sure about death.

There's no NBA summer where the Lakers aren't a major topic, and this year is no exception. Another scorching July in LA, as if their usual climate wasn't hot enough...

To start, Austin Reaves signed a long-term commitment. The "Hillbilly Kobe" entered the league five years ago late and quietly, as an undrafted 23-year-old free agent, and proved he could be a key part of NBA rotations. The Lakers rewarded him with a four-year max contract ($185 million), writing history as it's the most lucrative deal ever for an undrafted player. Coach JJ Redick believes Reaves is an ideal partner for Luka Dončić – offensively, they are truly a symphony, but defensively...

Ah, well, Walker Kessler from Utah was brought in for defense. The Lakers had been circling Kessler for a long time and finally managed to acquire him via a sign-and-trade maneuver – his contract is for $130 million over four years, and it cost the purple and gold two unprotected future first-round picks. Kessler will anchor the paint and "patch up" Luka and Austin, standing as a bulwark against other Western bigs, and catching lobs and playing out of the roll on offense. The price might have been high, but this was a trade that absolutely had to happen.

What else? Sandro Mamukelashvili had a great season in Toronto as a sixth man and has now cashed in in California. Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton also arrived, adding more offensive flexibility. Rui Hachimura was allowed to leave for the neighboring Clippers.

Hmm, I think I forgot someone in this overview. Oh, right...

The biggest story of this free agency period is still unfolding: which kingdom will LeBron pledge allegiance to?

That his story in Los Angeles is over, we know. Both sides said their goodbyes on social media with praise and thanks. So what's next? James has made it clear that his decision won't be driven by financial motives, but solely by sporting ones – in other words, he'll likely play for a veteran minimum or a modest salary. But where?

Golden State? The Warriors agreed with Draymond Green to become a free agent, so that LeBron and Anthony Davis could somehow be squeezed into that roster. However, Washington isn't letting Davis go for now (nor do the Warriors realistically have anything to offer them), and without him, there's no LeBron. Imagine, though, Bron, Dray, Steph, and Davis? What a powerful collection of NBA veterans, they would surely surprise someone.

Cleveland? Uh, this would be an emotional pick, but neither does he need them nor do they need him. He'd probably just get annoyed watching James Harden yawn on defense. It's not impossible, but the chances of it actually happening are slim.

Miami? Another former team, but this time King James would fit them perfectly, considering the Heat need bodies to fill out their rotation. LeBron isn't just anyone; the defense would be even stronger with him, and the offense wouldn't suffer either. Why not?

Or perhaps Denver? Ha, how entertaining would it be to see Nikola Jokić paired with the best player of this generation and one of the greatest in sports history. The Nuggets are nominally interested. LeBron is too. It might not be the most obvious choice for the end of a great career, but it's far from completely atypical. I'm not even entirely sure if LeBron is exactly what the Nuggets need to reach the Finals again... but admit it, it would be fun to watch.

There's plenty of time for LeBron to make his choice. His career is already written, his place in the pantheon of greats long secured. Whatever he chooses here, it will just be a charming curiosity at the end. Will he go to the Bay and form a veteran superteam, return to where he once dominated, or perhaps something else... even at forty-one, the kid from Ohio still has the power to engage all basketball fans in the world with his potential decision. And that, in itself, is a much bigger deal than the mere formality of a new club in his career. He will be missed when he finally hangs up his sneakers, whether you love him or not.

VIDEO Jokic records a triple-double against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then "runs" into his children's arms!