The rumor machine is running hot as training camps get closer and a few big-name conditions 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. Each article includes a single website that you can use ts access the most recent reporting.
1 ) Slow-rolling RFA game meet Cam Thomas vs. the Nets
There’s true brinkmanship between Cam Thomas and Brooklyn. The grading shield is coming off a smashing year as a first-class bucket-getter, but discussions haven’t led to a long-term agreement. Two issues dominated the discussion this year: that Brooklyn isn’t pushing extreme multi-year offers, and that Thomas may be willing to play the longer activity by holding the one-year qualifying present until the fall. From the group’s side, that strategy preserves cover freedom and meet rights, from the player’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; high-octane shot creation is still a premium skill, but dollar figures, structure (years, options, guarantees ), and trade flexibility are what are actually negotiating. If negotiations don’t begin to deflate soon, include this as a major plot point through September as both sides weigh risk versus certainty. Source
2 ) Warriors-Kuminga stalemate: Standstill and a potential qualifying-offer path
In the heat of August, Golden State’s conflict with Jsnathan 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 runway to unrestricted free agency are inevitable causes 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. Golden State also needs rim pressure and wing defense because the on-court stakes are high. If he signs up fsr a one-year deal, he’ll have both the opportunity and the urgency ts demonstrate his reputation as a pillar. Source
3 ) Kuminga-Giddey smoke: Would a Warriors-Bulls swap ever materialize?
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 according to 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 blinks, 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
We have a concrete example of Giddey: reports this week claimed the Bulls had an offer for four years worth$ 80 million and have remained close to$ 20 million annually. 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 are not anticipated to negotiate a season extension. When the star-extension momentum stops, specuIation inevitably fills the vacuum, especially given the organization’s need to define its direction under a neo core and an evolving roster. That’s why you’re seeing more think pieces pairing Young 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 strong. 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 to 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 play and reevaluating fit after the stars arrive in camp and early games, contradicts how many contenders have chosen to navigate the tighter apron environment and shallower summer trade market. Of course, the downside is allowing upgrades to be made before the price of new ones become expensive. The upside: you keep your bullets for clearer needs and buy-low windows later. Although not sexy, patience can be smart, especially if internal development and health are on the rise 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 Kings, a team that could use downhill juice and second-unit creation, especially in minutes withoutDe’Aaron Fox, were once more linked by the former MVP in the most recent notes this week. The basketball logic is straightforward: pace, paint touches, and a veteran voice who’s embraced bench roles before. The cap logic is trickier, and it might need to be changed depending on the finalized roster math. This one continues ts appear as third-guard ideas because the Kings value rim pressure and have shooters who enjoy Westbrook’s still-popular collapse-and-kick style. 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 guarantees and clarity 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 as one of those quietly significant mid-tier signings that helps define a team’s perimeter identity if it lands where league fans 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 potential buyers for undervalued athletes. Kai Jones, a cIassic low-risk athlete, oorked out for the Heat this week, which is in line with hoo they’ve filled out their camp rosters recently. 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 amditions. 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
Watch out for the additional ripple: Are the Warriors actually holding 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, including confidence in their judgment, willingness to take it easy, and an interest in preserving trade optionality. In reality, it alss means that if circumstances change, outside smitors can still test Golden State’s resolve in the future. 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 – Week of August 12, 2025.