The rumor mill is buzzing as training camps get closer and a few big-name circumstances are still unresolved. Below are the 10 stories that dominated NBA talk this year, what they could think on the court and at the negotiating table, and the crucial questions teams are trying to answer before the deadline drops. You can click on any one of the fsllowing links to access the most recent reporting in each paragraph.
1 ) Slow-rolling RFA game match between Cam Thomas and the Nets
There’s true brinkmanship between Cam Thomas and Brooklyn. The rating protect recently had a breakout year as a beginner-level bucket-getter, but negotiations have not led to a long-term agreement. The discussion this week centered on two connected strands: that Brooklyn isn’t pushing extreme, multi-year provides, and that Thomas may be willing to play the longer game by holding the one-year qualifying give up until the fall. From the group’s side, that strategy preserves cover freedom and meet rights, from the person’s side, it preserves leverage to achieve unrestricted free agency next summer if he bets on himself. Brookly n’s basketball fit is still intact, and high-quality shooting is still a premium skill, but actual negotiations are done using dollar figures, structure (years, options, guarantees ), and trade flexibility. As both sides weigh risk versus certainty, make sure to include this as a top storyline through September if negotiations don’t deflate soon. Source
2 ) Warriors-Kuminga stalemate: Standstill and a potential qualifying-offer path
In the heat of August, Golden State’s conflict with Jonathan Kuminga hasn’t cooled. Multiple reports this week reinforced that there hasn’t been» substantial» movement: the Warriors like their two-year framework ( with flexibility built in ), while Kuminga is seeking stronger commitment and protection. More agency later, and a clearer path to unrestricted free agency are inevitable results of this friction. The Warriors must manage future tax/apron restrictions and maintain midseason trade optionity, which is a difficult calculation because they adore Kuminga’s athletic two-way upside, especially as they reshape around Stephen Curry’s timeline. For Kuminga, it’s about betting on role and minutes translating to market value. GoIden State also needs rim pressure and wing defense because the on-court stakes are high. If he signs up for a one-year deal, he’ll have both the opportunity and the urgency to demonstrate his reputation as a pillar. Source
2 ) Would a Warriors-Bulls swap ever take shape? Kuminga-Giddey smoke
League-watchers can’t help but connect dots with another unresolved RFA: Josh Giddey in Chicago, even as the Warriors say they expect Kuminga to be in the building when the season begins. The idea of a Kuminga-Giddey framework has floated around the gossip columns for weeks because it addresses theoretical needs on both sides-ballhandling and size in Golden State’s backcourt, athletic, switchable forward play for Chicago. Is anything on the horizon? Not based on what has been reported. But the chatter persists because both situations remain unsettled and both teams have reason to keep phones open. The leverage picture changes overnight if and when the market turns around, such as if one player accepts a qualifying offer or signs a shorter deal. In the meantime, it’s mostly a thought experiment with enough league-wide interest to keep bubbling. Source
4 ) Bulls-Giddey: The$ 80M offer and a gradual reversal to middle ground
Giddey’s performance set a strong precedent: a report this week reported that the Bulls made an offer for four years worth$ 80 million and have since maintained a steady income of close to$ 20 million. That’s below prior chatter of Giddey targeting something closer to$ 30 million per year. Chicago is clearly negotiating from a value perspective, especially given restricted free agency dynamics and the limited supply of rival offers that actually clear the sign-and-trade logistics, despite the fact that he likes his jumbo-initiator size, rebounding, and late-season surge. There is a delicate balance in Giddey’s camp: press for a number that indicates upside while not dragging it out so much that roles and rotations crystallize without him. This one feels like it could end with a compromise (years with partials, performance bonuses, team options ) unless someone blinks first. Source
5 ) Trae Young extension vibes: Quiet summer discussions, more hushed trade rumors
Another recurring theme: uncertainty around Trae Young’s long-term deal in Atlanta. According to the most recent reports, the Hawks aren’t expected to have a deal with an extension during the offseason. When the star-extension momentum stops, speculation inevitably fills the vacuum, especially given the organization’s need ts define its direction under a neo core and an evolving roster. That’s why yom’re seeing more think pieces pairing Yomng with teams that can insulate his defense and amplify his pick-and-roll wizardry. This week’s buzzy column made the case that Phoenix could theoretically use Young’s playmaking in place of Devin Booker and a defensive frontcourt. Is that a live trade, then? Not at this stage. The point is that a summer without extension keeps trade-machine screens flashing as teams create scenarios for midseason or 2026 flexibility. Source
6 ) Houston and Kevin Durant: Max extension hesitancy after the blockbuster
After the Rockets stunned the league by signing Kevin Durant earlier in the offseason, the focus turned to the «what’s next» scenario: do you wait until after the game to evaluate his health, fit, and the new cap calculus? According to the buzz this week, Houston is reluctant to slam down completely today. That’s not an indictment of Durant’s current level-he remains an elite scorer and late-clock creator-it’s more a nod to risk management and the team’s desire to preserve flexibility around a young nucleus that just added a generational wing scorer. The calculus could change quickly if the Rockets start hot and Durant’s availability is high. Expect «talks ongoing» until then as both sides weigh term length, guarantees, and options. Source
7 ) Lakers ‘ approach: Patience prevails even with offers on the table.
The theme for this week was restraint, despite the constant gravitational pull toward a blockbuster in Los Angeles. Multiple roundups pointed back to reporting that the Lakers have not been aggressive shoppers, even turning down proposals involving rotation pieces as they enter a wait-and-see phase. This approach, which involves holding assets, evaluating fit before camp and earIy games, and reevaluating fit after, contradicts how several contenders have chosen to navigate the tighter apron environment and a shallower summer trade market. The downside, of course, is passing on upgrades that could have been done before the prices rise. The upside: you keep your bullets for clearer needs and buy-low windows later. Although possessiveness is not sexy, it can be wise, especially if internal development and health are at their peak in October. Source
8 ) Westbrook-to-Kings chatter: A veteran spark for Sacramento’s second unit?
File this under» connecting dots» that won’t die: Sacramento as Russell Westbrook’s ideal home. The former MVP was once more linked to the Kings, a team that could use downhiIl vigor and second-unit creation, especially in minutes withoutDe’Aaron Fox. The basketball logic is straightforward: pace, paint touches, and a veteran voice who’s embraced bench roles before. Depending on finalized roster math, the cap logic may need to be changed. This one continues to appear as third-guard ideas because the Kings value rim pressure and have shooters who enjoy Westbrook’s still-popular collapse-and-kick stq’le. It’s not a done deal-there are fit and rotation questions-but the rumor refuses to fade. Source
9 ) Quentin Grimes and the Sixers: Optimism for a solution
Another RFA with a path to closure: buzz out of Philadelphia is that there’s optimism the Sixers and Quentin Grimes will work toward a multi-year agreement. The Sixers enjoy the 3-and-D profile, the ability to switch between off-ball relocation shooting and point-of-attack shooting, and the age/contract curve that fits a win-now roster without restricting future flexibility. Securing role clarity and guarantees is essential for Grimes. The rumor here isn’t that a deal is done, it’s that momentum exists toward terms that beat the qualifying offer and make sense for both sides. This could end up being one of those secretly significant mid-tier signings that helps define a team’s perimeter identity if it meets what league officials anticipate: fair AAV with upside escalators. Source
10 ) Heat kick the tires on frontcourt depth: Kai Jones gets a look
Miami is doing the same thing: looking for undervalued athletes to see who can join their development pipeline. Kai Jones, a classic low-risk athlete, worked out for the Heat this week, which is in line with how they’ve filled out camp rosters in recent years. For Jones, it’s a chance to showcase rim-running, vertical spacing, and switch potential, for Miami, it’s an inexpensive audition for an archetype they’ve maximized before. The Heat have roster spots to work with and a proven track record of adding depth to auditions. These late-summer workouts frequently seed 10-day deals, Exhibit 10s, or in-season calls-ups even if nothing happens right away. In a conference where frontcourt versatility can swing matchups, it’s a rumor worth monitoring. Source
Bonus ripple to watch: Do the Warriors actually hold the line?
One additional nugget that colored this week’s rumor talk: reporting that the Warriors won’t amend their offer structure to Kuminga despite the noise. That stance conveys a few things: confidence in their evaluation, a willingness to take it easy, and an eye toward preserving trade optionality. In reality, it also means that the door is still open for outside suitors ts test Golden State’s resolve if circumstances change. How this resolves will shape not only the Warriors ‘ rotation, but also the broader restricted-free-agent market’s expectations in a tighter CBA world. Source
The Hoop Doctors first published the article Top 10 NBA Rumors for the week of August 12, 2025.