RealGM Basketball Wiretap

18 August 2025

• Will Hardy Wants Ace Bailey To 'Build A Routine' As a Rookie

  Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy wants to keep things simple for Ace Bailey during his rookie season. Hardy believes that building consistency will help Bailey grow as a player.

  "For Ace, first and foremost, it's going to be about building a routine. The NBA is a lot. The number of appearances is far more than he used to. That's practice, shootaround, games, but it's going to be about sort of him finding his routine, because I think the routine saves you during the season, you don't have to think that much," Hardy said.

  Hardy was encouraged by what he saw from Bailey during his brief Summer League appearances. The 6-foot-7 forward was limited to two Summer League games due to a hip flexor injury.

  "On the court, offensively, it's going to be a little bit of playing without the ball, moving around. I think Ace showed he was really active in summer league. He's a good cutter. He can play in off-ball screens," Hardy said. "And then defensively, while his body is continuing to get stronger, it's going to be about using his length, because I think that is a real strength of his right now. I think that's how he can survive on the defensive end right now."

• Nine Teams Could Have Significant Cap Space During 2026 NBA Offseason

  There are nine teams who project to have significant cap space during the 2026 offseason. Cap space will be more readily available next offseason than it was in 2025 after a 10 percent increase in the cap for this season and a projected seven percent increase for 2026-27, combined with fewer veteran extensions this year.

  The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.

  There were only three teams with salary cap space in 2025 in the Nets, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets used their cap space to take on Michael Porter Jr. via trade, while the Grizzlies used theirs to sign a renegotiate-and-extend contract with Jaren Jackson Jr. The Bucks unexpectedly created cap space by using the stretch-and-waive on Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner.

  From 2013-14 to 2019-20, the league went through a period with an average of 17 teams per year with cap space. Since then, the average has decreased to 5.1 teams.

  The 2026 free agent class is expected to include Trae Young and LeBron James.

• Jazz Likely To Keep Georges Niang

  The Utah Jazz acquired Georges Niang in a trade with the Boston Celtics last week. Niang's second stint in Utah doesn't appear to be setup to be a short one.

  Niang previously played for the Jazz for four seasons from 2017 through 2021. Since then, he's played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks. Niang was acquired by Boston in a salary-clearing move that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks. The Celtics then further shed salary by sending Niang to Utah.

  The Jazz sent two-way player R.J. Luis in the deal. Utah also acquired two future second-round picks for taking on Niang's contract.

  The Jazz have acquired several big men this summer to put around their young team. Utah also traded for Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love this offseason. Love and the Jazz have reportedly discussed a buyout that would allow the veteran big man to join a contender for next season.

• Celtics Trade Georges Niang, Two 2nd Rounders To Jazz For RJ Luis Jr.

  The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Georges Niang and two future second round picks to the Utah Jazz for RJ Luis Jr. The Celtics will lower their tax bill from $73.1 million to $30.4 million with the maneuver as Niang was on an $8.2 million expiring contract.

  The Celtics acquired Niang from the Atlanta Hawks in June as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

  Niang previously played for the Jazz earlier in his career before leaving for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

• Jazz Waive Jaden Springer

  The Utah Jazz have waived guard Jaden Springer.

  Springer appeared in 17 games (two starts) during the 2024-25 season with Utah, averaging 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 13.2 minutes per game.

• Kyle Filopowski Named Summer League MVP

  Kyle Filopowski has been named MVP of the 2025 Summer League and headlines the All-Summer League First Team. Filipowski averaged 29.3 points, 7.7rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocks in 28.6 minutes across three Vegas Summer League games for the Utah Jazz. Filipowski is entering his second season in the NBA after he was the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Duke.

  Filipowski joins past winners of the Summer League MVP award such as Cam Whitemore, Keegan Murray, Lonzo Ball, John Wall and Blake Griffin.

  All-Summer League First Team
  • Nique Clifford, Kings
  • Kyle Filipowski, Jazz
  • David Jones-Garcia, Spurs
  • Jordan Miller, Clippers
  • Terrence Shannon Jr., Wolves

  All-Summer League Second Team
  • Ron Holland II, Pistons
  • Isaac Jones, Kings
  • Kon Knueppel, Hornets
  • Ajay Mitchell, Thunder
  • KJ Simpson, Hornets

• Jazz Not Interested In Trading Lauri Markkanen

  The Utah Jazz do not intend to make Lauri Markkanen available in trade discussions, sources tell ESPN's Tim MacMahon. The Jazz have continued to get younger this offseason by trading John Collins and Collin Sexton while also buying out Jordan Clarkson.

  Utah continues to project Markkanen as a key part of their future core after signing him to a five-year, $238 million renegotiate-and-extend contract during the 2024 offseason. The Jazz did listen to trade offers for Markkanen before they finalized an extension.

  With the Jazz requiring a massive trade package to Markkanen after he had a disappointing 2024-25 season, it is unlikely any teams would be interested in meeting their asking price when also factoring in the size of his contract.

  Markkanen just turned 28 in May and averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season while posting a True Shooting Percentage of just .571 compared to over .630 each of the previous two seasons. Markkanen was an All-Star in 2023 when he had his breakout season after joining the Jazz as part of the Donovan Mitchell trade.

• Heat Acquire Norman Powell, Clippers Receive John Collins In Three-Team Trade With Jazz

  The Miami Heat have acquired Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade involving the Utah Jazz. The Clippers will acquire John Collins, while the Jazz will receive Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 second round pick from the Clippers.

  Powell is on a $20.5 million expiring contract from his five-year, $90 million deal initially signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. Powell will provide the Heat additional shot creation in the backcourt as he comes off a career-high average of 21.8 points per game when he was an All-Star candidate.

  Collins is also on a $26.6 million expiring contract from his five-year, $125 million contract initially signed with the Atlanta Hawks. Collins will give the Clippers more depth in the frontcourt. Last seasons, Collins averaged 18.9 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30.5 minutes over 40 games.

  The Clippers have also been linked with Bradley Beal if he gets bought out by the Phoenix Suns as expected, as well as with Chris Paul.

  Love will be a buyout candidate for the Jazz as they continue their rebuild.

• Jazz Guarantee Svi Mykhailiuk's $3.68M Contract

  Svi Mykhailiuk has had his $3.68 million contract for the 2025-26 season guaranteed by the Utah Jazz. The contract was previously non-guaranteed.

  Mykhailiuk appeared in 38 games with the Jazz, averaging 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20.0 minutes. Mykhailiuk spent the previous season with the Boston Celtics.

• Jordan Clarkson, Jazz Agree To Buyout

  Jordan Clarkson and the Utah Jazz have agreed to a contract buyout. Clarkson is already expected to receive interest from multiple playoff teams once he clears waivers. Clarkson will likely sign a one-year deal in free agency to play for a contender before rejoining the open market next offseason when more teams have cap space.

  Clarkson, who is represented by Rich Paul and Brandon Cavanaugh, had one season remaining on his three-year, $55 million renegotiate-and-extend contract signed in 2023.

  Clarkson averaged 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 26.0 minutes over 37 games last season for the Jazz.