NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: August 6, 2026, 10:08 PM ET

Sixers' Star-Studded Rebuild

Joel Embiid healthy and "extra motivated" with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown now on his side, according to 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey. Philadelphia 76ers swingman Jaylen Brown had an extreme idea if the newly renovated team won a championship, but LeBron James shot it down with a simple "'Boy ... naw.'" Brown said he was disappointed with the Celtics' communication with him before he was traded to the Sixers, but his focus now is on winning and fitting in with his new team. The 76ers guard left Donovan Mitchell and Coco Jones' wedding inspired for his next relationship, citing the event as a spark for his desire for love. For 22-time All-Star LeBron James, his last decision was about loyalty — not to any of his previous stops but to his own basketball compass, according to the inside account of how he landed in Philadelphia. League insiders are already circling every Knicks-76ers matchup on the 2026-27 schedule as the East's new heavyweight showdown takes shape.

Mavericks & Doncic Off-Court News

The Dallas Mavericks' bounty for Cooper Flagg's 1-of-1 debut patch autograph card includes a plethora of items, underscoring the franchise's aggressive pursuit of the prized collectible. Doncic's ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes is withdrawing her petition seeking child support and attorney fees from the Lakers star, a notable reversal in the off-court saga.

Free Agency & Contract Extensions

Lonnie Walker IV agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, agent George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group told ESPN on Wednesday night. Suns forward Brooks agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension through the 2029-30 season, his agent told ESPN. Three-time NBA slam dunk contest champion Mac McClung has signed with Basquet Girona, a Spanish team owned by three-time NBA All-Star Marc Gasol. ESPN is grading the biggest free agent signings and extensions, including Dillon Brooks getting a new deal with the Suns and Draymond Green's latest contract. NBA's free agency and trade tracker continues to monitor deals across the league, including the latest on free agents such as DeMar DeRozan.

League-Wide Developments

Federal prosecutors have alleged that a key defendant in the ongoing NBA gambling case has attempted to tamper with witnesses, including by posting a rat emoji on Instagram. The Wizards and Anthony Davis' agent, Rich Paul, have decided to wait on talks for a potential extension until after the season starts, sources told ESPN. The National Basketball Players Association opened the PLYRS UNTD Performance Center in Los Angeles this week, offering a "one-stop shop" for league players to scrimmage, workout and recover. The Kings drafted Darius Acuff Jr., but accelerating his growth while sorting out two expensive veterans in De'Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine will define their rebuild, according to an inside look at Sacramento's balancing act. Golden State's pursuit of LeBron James never got serious, and with major upgrades never materializing, the Warriors are again banking on continuity. State's franchise-altering 2027 offseason is just one of the storylines ESPN's resident GM Bobby Marks is watching closely in his list of 10 questions for the summer of 2027. Victor Wembanyama will host "eight to 10" teammates in France this week for workouts as the San Antonio Spurs look to rebound from their loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. The NBA has seen eight different champions in eight years, and the question of which of the other 22 teams can make it 9-for-9 — and which ones are a long way off — is central to the league's parity conversation. Knicks senior vice president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas is leaving the organization after four seasons, league sources confirmed to ESPN. NBA front insider Bobby Marks is examining the biggest questions as the dust settles on 2026 free agency, separating fact from fiction across the league's offseason trends.