NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: July 19, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

NBA Offseason Buzz and Player Movements

Speculation continues to swirl around LeBron James, with Miami Heat executive Pat Riley publicly expressing his desire for the superstar to return to South Florida. Giannis Antetokounmpo also chimed in, stating he'd be "excited" and would do "whatever it takes" to win a title with the Heat. James himself has remained tight-lipped, offering only cryptic remarks like "trust the process" during recent public appearances. Meanwhile, veteran center Jonas Valanciunas has departed the NBA, signing a two-year deal with Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas. Valanciunas leaves to join his homeland's club.

League Investigations and Rulings

The NBA is reportedly looking into a potential salary cap circumvention issue concerning Gary Trent Jr.'s four-year, $64 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. A league spokesperson confirmed the investigation. In other news, the league has decided not to punish Bam Adebayo for an altercation with former teammate Tyler Herro at a Las Vegas gym, as. Separately, a U.S. representative has called for the NBA to review its ties to Joe Tsai, co-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, following Alibaba's designation as a "Chinese military company" by the U.S. government.

Team Transactions and Rookie Outlook

The Dallas Mavericks have matched the New York Knicks' two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, ensuring he remains with the team. Mavs match for the young center. On the draft front, NBA analyst Zach Kram has unveiled his latest rookie rankings, evaluating prospects like Boozer and Dybantsa ahead of the highly anticipated draft class. Additionally, betting insights are emerging for the 2026-27 NBA Rookie of the Year race, with early takes on potential contenders. Rookie Year are starting to surface.