RealGM Basketball Wiretap

07 July 2026

• Nets, Wolves Had Real Interest In Jaylen Brown But Moved On Before Celtics Reached Deal With Sixers

  The Boston Celtics received trade interest from a number of other teams on Jaylen Brown, but some of those teams dropped out of the bidding and moved forward with other teams. This left the Celtics to eventually move forward with their trade to the Philadelphia 76ers that was widely received as a surprise and for less than expected when he first was put on the trade market with their offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

  The Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves were amongst the teams with interest in Brown that decided to move on before the final agreement was reached. The Wolves traded for LaMelo Ball on the morning after the second round of the draft.

  "Why this deal and why now?" said Zach Lowe on his podcast on Tuesday. As we've begun to sift through the rubble of this, the answer to that has become a little bit clearer. I think it's because Boston felt an urgency to do this. I think they were worried about the internal discord of bringing him back to a team that was going to at least mostly be Jayson Tatum team as the No. 1 option.

  "I think they were worried that deals were starting to disappear. Brooklyn moved on to other business. I think there was real interest there. Minnesota moved on to its business. I think there was real interest there. Jon Krawczynski talked about it on the podcast.

  "Toronto, if they had been interested at all, pivoted to Kawhi Leonard and coming back to Toronto.

  "Was there fear? I think Boston probably miscalculated on a couple of levels. Number one, the Philly option was not going to go away. I think Josh Harris became pretty fixated on getting Jaylen Brown. And I think they could have squeezed another asset out of the Sixers, for sure.

  "And I also think-I'm curious to hear-I think there was at least one or two other teams who might have been interested in Jaylen Brown who got intel that Jaylen Brown was not super interested in them and to maybe stay out of the bidding. I think Boston felt the circle closing.

  "And then you throw on top of that teams like Houston and Cleveland, who could have had the assets, just weren't diving into it at all.

  "I thought Portland was kind of a wild card," said Bobby Marks.

  "That's the one where I'm like did Jaylen Brown want to be there?" replied Lowe.

  There were reports that Boston's initial astronomical asking price for Brown scared off several teams.

• LeBron James Only Considering A 'Handful' Of Teams, Not In Any Rush To Make Decision

  LeBron James is only considering signing with a "handful" of teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Chris Haynes.

  Haynes added that James has no plans to take pitch meetings with those teams and will let agent Rich Paul handle that part of the negotiations.

  "Rich Paul is doing all the background work. He's talking with teams, and then he in return will relay all the intel and data to LeBron James, in which LeBron will make a decision. So there will be no meetings, no pitches that will allow teams to sit down with LeBron," said Haynes.

  Haynes then reiterated that James is in no rush to make a decision.

  It was reported over the weekend that there was a "growing belief" that James would eventually return to the Cavs.

• Brad Stevens Explains Reasoning Behind Celtics' Jaylen Brown Trade

  Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said Monday the team traded Jaylen Brown to boost roster flexibility and add draft capital, calling the franchise's forward path "more challenging" than in recent seasons.

  Stevens and team owner Bill Chisholm addressed reporters in Boston to discuss the trade, which sent Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George and four draft picks.

  "When I looked at our team and where the league was heading, looked at the way that we've finished the last couple years and at the unbelievable way we've played in the regular season in the last couple years, the path looked a little bit more challenging to me," said Stevens. "I might be wrong. I'm not going to stand up here and be defensive about that, but the path looked a little bit more challenging with 70% of our cap and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players [Brown and Jayson Tatum].

  "The reality in this day and age at the NBA... you have to do a great job of building out depth that can hopefully replace the irreplaceable individual."

  Brown, a five-time All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP, was drafted third overall by Boston in 2016. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists last season while Tatum recovered from a torn Achilles.

  Boston previously pursued a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo before he was dealt to the Miami Heat, leaving Brown's future uncertain for weeks.

  Chisholm denied the move was financially motivated.

  "No, absolutely not," said Chisholm. "This was all about basically trying to win. Really trusting in our process. I think we have the best front office in the NBA, and they put in their work and they came to the conclusion this was the best way for us to win."

  Boston also agreed to a three-year, $47 million deal with center Mitchell Robinson and re-signed Neemias Queta to a four-year, $56 million extension.

• Celtics Initial High Asking Price Scared Off Teams Interested In Trading For Jaylen Brown

  The Boston Celtics had no contingency plan after failing to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. Boston then pursued an aggressive trade market for Jaylen Brown, reportedly seeking four unprotected first-round picks, a demand that ultimately drove potential trade partners away.

  Multiple executives said the steep asking price backfired on the Celtics as the trade market cooled.

  "The asking price for Brown was so high that teams got scared away and moved on to other business," said an executive from a team that held brief discussions with Boston. "There was no need to circle back."

  Several teams interested in Brown made other significant moves while Boston waited for a stronger offer to emerge.

  The Celtics had initially targeted Antetokounmpo, engaging the Milwaukee Bucks in trade talks before finishing as runner-up to the Miami Heat. Boston reportedly refused to include young prospects Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez in its offer, which centered on Brown and two first-round picks.

  After missing on Antetokounmpo, the Celtics broadened their search across the league, continuing to push for an aggressive package in return for Brown. That approach discouraged teams from staying engaged in negotiations.

  Boston ultimately traded Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers on July 1 for Paul George, one unprotected first-round pick, an additional first-round selection or swap, and two second-round picks.

  Brown, a five-time All-Star, averaged career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists last season.

• LeBron James' Free Agency Suitors Haven't Heard Anything

  LeBron James is nearly a week into his free agency and there have been little tangible indictors with where he is at regards to his decision. When the decision by James to leave the Los Angeles Lakers was revealed, he was most closely tied to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat. The list has now expanded to include the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

  The teams involved in the pursuit of James are believed to know no additional details from James and Rich Paul than what has been released publicly.

  James followed a similar pattern during his free agencies in 2010, 2014 and 2018 where he kept his decision-making private until he notified his next team that he would sign.

  "But the last I heard, the teams had not heard anything," said ESPN's Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective. "The teams were interested in LeBron-like, they had, they had made contact and whatever-and they hadn't heard anything. And they're like, 'Well, we don't know what to make of it.' And this is what happened with the previous LeBron free agency when he switched teams.

  "They didn't know. LeBron called in and was basically like, 'Yep, I'm coming.' And they're like, 'Oh, okay.' Like, it wasn't like-maybe they, maybe they felt good. Like they said, 'Oh, I think the vibe is good.' But like, the Heat didn't know he was coming. The Cavs didn't know he was coming back."

• Cavaliers, Warriors, Sixers, Heat, Wolves, Nuggets All Believe They Can Sign LeBron James

  Free agent forward LeBron James hasn't made a decision about where he'll play next season. We know it won't be with the Los Angeles Lakers. James' agent Rich Paul said 27 of the other 29 teams have reached out. Of those 27 teams, six believe they have a real shot at landing the NBA's all-time leading scorer for next season.

  The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have been mentioned as landing spots for James, since before he announced he was moving on from the Lakers. The Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets all believe they are still in the running for the superstar forward's services for the 2026-27 season.

  All six of those teams are likely offering James the opportunity to compete for a title, but he might have to play on a veteran minimum contract for next season. The Cavaliers and Warriors still have moves they can make to free up spending power to offer James a contract for greater than the minimum. The other four teams would have to do something unexpected.

• Jayson Tatum Breaks Silence On Jaylen Brown Trade

  Jayson Tatum publicly acknowledged Jaylen Brown's departure Friday, sharing an Instagram tribute two days after the Boston Celtics dealt his longtime running mate to the Philadelphia 76ers.

  The trade sent Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. The deal ended a nine-year on-court pairing between Tatum and Brown.

  Tatum posted a photo of the two players together, reflecting on their shared history in Boston.

  "9 years! Forever grateful for all that we accomplished together, for pushing me to be a better player," wrote Tatum. "From first round exits to winning a champ together and respect for you as a player and as a person. Looking forward to see how you attack this next chapter of your career and wish nothing but the best for you! Continue to be special!"

  Brown had already addressed the trade publicly Thursday night, speaking on a livestream without referencing Tatum by name.

  "The message was received," said Brown, on his stream. "I wasn't thrilled with the amount of respect that was shown throughout this process. I think there was a bit of lack of respect. I think it was fine at one point, then out of nowhere, things just went left. I think Brad (Stevens) is getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn't thrilled with the way he facilitated some of the conversations.

  "I definitely think there's more to it. I just wish that the more to it could've been explained to me. Because I think if the more to it was explained that I would've understood. I thought I earned respect to get that explanation. But hey, obviously, I was wrong. That's life. You move on."

  Celtics president Brad Stevens and owner Bill Chisholm are set to discuss the trade publicly on Monday.

• Rich Paul Details Ten Potential LeBron James Teams In Free Agency

  Rich Paul outlined ten possible landing spots for LeBron James on Friday, three days after James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he intends to sign elsewhere.

  Paul broke down the options during an episode of his "Game Over" podcast alongside Max Kellerman, using a whiteboard to weigh advantages and drawbacks for each franchise. Paul told ESPN he has now spoken with 27 teams regarding James.

  The Klutch Sports founder named the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs as possibilities.

  "Every day things change," said Paul, to ESPN. "This is the first time that LeBron James is making a decision pressure-free. He's won already. He's made good on his promise, he won in L.A. This is strictly for his happiness. What does happiness entail? It's a number of things. It's a bucket of happiness. It's basketball, it's living, it's camaraderie, it's competition. It's everything."

  Paul highlighted Philadelphia's roster, built around Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid.

  "Philadelphia, everything changed," said Paul. "How could you not have his attention when you have Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown and Embiid?

  "He loves Maxey, so we don't even have to talk about that. I think V.J., he helps V.J. understand really how to play the game.

  "Obviously, Jaylen Brown. Embiid is health and habits. The health and habits of Embiid are there. He enhances everything there. He unlocks everything there."

  On the Cavaliers, Paul cited Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen alongside the front office.

  "Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, Allen. Dan and Grant, which is the Gilberts. Plus Koby, he was there when LeBron won there," said Paul. "Big, big, big X factor, let me talk to you about Brandon Weems.

  "Brandon Weems is basically LeBron's brother. Now, he worked his own way up, nobody gave him anything. He's earned to be in the front office of the Cavs. But that is a big feather in the cap for Cleveland, because of Brandon Weems."

  Paul categorized the Knicks as unlikely, calling a reunion too risky given New York's championship last month.

  "It's difficult, because the last thing you want to do is mess up something like that," said Paul. "The Knicks have a good thing going. If the Knicks hadn't had won, this wouldn't even be a question. There would be no board. He'd be going to the Knicks."

  Paul added the Warriors remain in play after Draymond Green restructured his contract.

  "You see Steph and Dray," said Paul. "Don't forget about Steph and Dray."

  Sources tell ESPN that the Spurs are not considered a potential team for James to join this offseason.

• Caleb Love, Sixers Agree To Two-Way Contract

  Caleb Love and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a two-way deal.

  Love went undrafted out of Arizona in 2025 and spent the 2025-26 season with the Portland Trail Blazers on a two-way deal.

  Love averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20.7 minutes. Love had a True Shooting Percentage of .497.

• Jaylen Brown's Contract Size Suppressed Trade Market

  Jaylen Brown's modest trade return has sparked debate this week after the Boston Celtics landed just Paul George, two unprotected first round picks and two second round picks from the Philadelphia 76ers.

  ESPN's Tim MacMahon said Brown's salary directly influenced his trade value on Friday's episode of The Hoop Collective.

  "I had a primary decision maker with another team in the league say if you make $60 million, this is what you're worth in a trade," said MacMahon. "If he made $40 million, every single team in the league would have been lining up for Jaylen, even with all the other issues."

  Boston initially offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo and then had to shift to broader trade talks when the Miami Heat had their package accepted. The Celtics were hoping for strong interest following his career-best season.

  "They went out swinging for sky high value," said MacMahon. "They went out trying to trade Jaylen Brown at the value of the sixth most valuable player in the league, which is what he was in MVP voting. When the league does not perceive him to be, the league in terms of the people who are making decisions on trade, that the league does not perceive him to be the sixth most valuable player in the league. Because in part of his contract, and this is such a hot button issue, but the advanced analytics are not favorable to Jaylen Brown.

  "It's our job to explain things, whether we're co-signing or not co-signing or whatever. When there's something like this that confuses the hell out of the media, the fans, all of our listeners. We saw this trade and let's be honest, the initial reaction was 'What the bleep?'

  "This other GM says this is a classic case of the credit goes to the guy who scores but they're not driving team success. There's guys like this all over the league. The difference is he's not a $40 million and a Brandon Ingram. He's at $60 million.

  "It gets into the CBA and the cap rules and the apron. It's really hard to tie up that much money in your salary cap for one player that's truly generational and he's not even close to that.

  "He also said the league is getting smarter now. And here's the thing: the dumb teams are the cheap teams. So the Celtics weren't even in a position to try to capitalize on a quote-unquote dumb team because they're not bringing in a guy with $180 million over the next three years left on his deal and who wants an extension off those numbers."

  Brown had been eligible for a two-year, $141.8 million extension with Boston in July.

  ESPN's Vincent Goodwill tied the trade to the league's broader shift away from free agency.

  "That's the key thing there," said Goodwill. "The reason you see more trades and not free agency nowadays is because the trade market is free agency. And if you have not made a decision that your franchise player is worth that extension, then you have to trade him. If your franchise players has said 'I'm not taking this extension', then you have to trade him.

  "This was coming sooner this summer rather than later even if the Giannis stuff did not happen. This was looming. And the problem was the order of operations of the way things happened presented really bad optics."

  Goodwill said Brown's strong season widened the gap between public perception and how front offices actually valued him.

  "There is a schism between the year he had and the player that he is," said Goodwill. "He had a top-6 year as far as keeping the Celtics afloat relative to expectations, all the numbers, career highs. But even the GMs who like him tell me, he's a top-25 player, not a top-6 player. The Celtics were trying to get top-6 return for a top-25 player, which is what you're supposed to do. But it just dragged on long and left a bad taste in people's mouths."

  Other traded players facing extension decisions this offseason included Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.