NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Last updated: August 21, 2026, 1:10 AM ET
Contract News
Lakers stake espn.com minority owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has no plans to sell his 4% stake in the franchise, his attorney confirmed to ESPN. Harden deal espn.com agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to remain with the Cavaliers, his agency Equity Sports announced Thursday. Watford deal espn.com and the Pelicans reached agreement on a one-year, $2.9 million deal, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Watson trade espn.com will head to Cleveland as part of a five-team deal that sends Max Strus to the Clippers, with Watson set to sign a new four-year, $88 million rookie extension. Westbrook retirement espn.com announced his retirement after 18 NBA seasons, following a hint dropped during camp conversations.
Player Moves & Team Building
Suns display espn.com is installing an LED display on the exterior of their arena measuring 226 feet wide by 41 feet tall ahead of the 2027 All-Star Game. Spurs funding espn.com city council voted 6-5 to reject a proposed public vote on the city's $489 million contribution for a new downtown arena. Thunder preview espn.com offseason moves raise questions about whether weakened depth will cost Oklahoma City in the upcoming 2026-27 season. Timberwolves preview espn.com new backcourt pairing of Anthony Edwards and Lonzo Ball could make Minnesota a threat in the Western Conference. Jazz preview espn.com Darryn Peterson's arrival may signal the end of the rebuild in Utah heading into 2026-27.
International & Draft Updates
Wemby captain espn.com was named captain of the French national team for the FIBA World Cup European qualifiers, the squad announced Wednesday. Draft watch espn.com draft analyst Jeremy Woo identified key prospects to monitor for the 2027 and 2028 NBA drafts after a summer of scouting. Rookie projections espn.com NBA insiders forecast which top rookies will make the biggest long-term impact in their careers and who can reach stardom. Knicks title espn.com championship run defined the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN analyst Zach Kram, who examined the moment that could be remembered for decades. Nets reaction espn.com owner Joe Tsai called the Knicks' title "embarrassing" to his franchise in a recent interview.
Legal & Social Issues
Kings lawsuit a former Sacramento Kings assistant athletic trainer filed a civil lawsuit against the organization and its senior director of athlete health, alleging pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment.