Here is your NBA Morning Brief covering all the latest NBA news, scores, trades, injuries, and standout performances from around the league.
TOP NBA Story of the Day: Kawhi Leonard’s trade to Raptors could be delayed until 2027
The NBA’s investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented salary-cap rules to compensate Kawhi Leonard could last longer than first expected.
According to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, the case could continue well beyond the beginning of the 2026-27 season if all sides involved cannot agree on the investigation’s findings or a potential settlement.
Sources close to the players’ union told ESPN that the NBPA would not hesitate to challenge the league through arbitration if it believed any punishment involving Leonard was unsupported by the evidence.
The league opened the investigation in September 2025 following allegations that Leonard received a four-year, $28 million endorsement agreement from Aspiration, a now-bankrupt company that previously held a $300 million sponsorship agreement with the Clippers.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has acknowledged introducing Leonard to Aspiration, but has denied knowing about or directing the company’s endorsement agreement with the player.
The Toronto Raptors are also in a particular rush, having agreed on June 30 to a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that would bring Leonard back to the franchise he led to a 2019 NBA championship.
The reported package would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round selections to the Clippers.
However, both franchises announced on July 9 that the transaction had been placed on hold while they awaited the outcome of the investigation.
NBA MOVES & TRANSACTIONS: Quite day in the offseason
The Philadelphia 76ers traded away Johni Broome and a 2027 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for cash considerations. The move cleared salary space, allowing the 76ers to complete the signing of veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans signed 26-year-old Cameroonian center Christian Koloko. Last season with the Atlanta Hawks, Koloko averaged 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds across 14 NBA games.
The New Orleans Pelicans and Christian Koloko have agreed to a one-year deal, league sources told @hoopshype. He’ll compete for the final Pelicans roster spot after stints with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Atlanta Hawks in the last four seasons. pic.twitter.com/9oTGNuUxbR
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 28, 2026
NBA RUMOR MILL: Golden State Warriors could trade veteran stars
The Golden State Warriors could use their veteran contracts to pursue a major roster change before the 2027 NBA trade deadline in February.
ESPN’s Marc J. Spears suggested that the Warriors should remain patient because the contracts of Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porziņģis could become valuable trade pieces during the season.
Several teams could decide to change direction by the deadline, potentially giving Golden State access to players who are currently unavailable.
Butler is entering the final year of his deal and will earn approximately $56.8 million during the upcoming season. He has been a part of the Golden State Warriors since arriving from the Miami Heat in February 2025.
Green recently returned on a one-year, $27.7 million deal. Additionally, Porziņģis signed a two-year, $40 million contract following a midseason arrival from the Atlanta Hawks.
"For Warriors fans, the best thing to do is to be patient to see what happens at the trade deadline."@MarcJSpears with a simple message to Warriors fans who are upset about the silent offseason | @WillardAndDibs pic.twitter.com/sJUwSOupdK
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) July 30, 2026
NBA MARKET WATCH: Cap space watch
As the 2026 NBA offseason begins to take shape, cap space is quickly becoming one of the most decisive factors in how the league’s free agency and trade market will unfold.
A clear divide is emerging between teams that are financially flexible and those operating near the second apron, where every move requires far more precision and long-term calculation. That gap is already shaping conversations across front offices, especially as teams begin prioritizing either aggressive roster upgrades or preservation of future flexibility.
Several franchises enter this phase of the offseason with significant cap room, positioning themselves as potential accelerators of the market. These teams are not necessarily chasing star-level free agents, but instead are strategically placed to absorb contracts, facilitate multi-team trades, or take advantage of opportunistic signings once the market begins to move.
On the other end of the spectrum, contending teams remain heavily restricted by apron-related limitations, which continues to push them toward smaller, targeted improvements rather than major roster overhauls. In many cases, this is forcing front offices to explore creative mechanisms such as sign-and-trade structures or veteran minimum additions to address clear roster needs.
The next phase of the offseason will likely be dictated by how quickly the cap-space teams decide to act. Historically, once the first major domino falls, it creates immediate ripple effects across the league, unlocking stalled negotiations and forcing other organizations to adjust their strategy in real time.
For now, the market remains in a holding pattern — but the financial landscape is already clearly defining who will have the power to shape it.
