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: Bradley Beal rejoins Los Angeles Clippers on a shocking new deal
Thirty-three-year-old Bradley Beal has agreed to a two-year, $13.2 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, which includes a player option for the second year, per Shams Charania.
Beal will return to the Clippers after briefly leaving the franchise following his decision to decline his 2026/27 $5.6 million player option with the team and become a free agent.
He originally joined the Clippers last offseason via a two-year, $11 million contract after agreeing to a massive buyout with the Phoenix Suns.
However, the guard appeared in just six games during the 2025/26 season before a hip injury ended his campaign. The three-time NBA All-Star averaged 8.2 points and 1.7 assists while shooting 37.5% from the field.
Beal explored his free agency options, but both sides ultimately reached an agreement on a new deal after the Clippers cleared enough cap space.
He was notably linked to the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. In the end, he decided to return to Los Angeles to run it back with the Clippers.
Free agent Bradley Beal has agreed to a two-year, $13.2 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, with a player option in the second season, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/RzLqjDv5hy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 13, 2026
NBA MOVES & TRANSACTIONS: Ethan Thompson waived by the Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are waiving Ethan Thompson from his two-way contract. Thompson appeared in 32 NBA regular-season games last season, averaging 7.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. The 27-year-old is close to arriving in the EuroLeague, as Partizan has expressed interest in signing him.
Teammates again? 👀
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) August 13, 2026
According to reports, the deal has been agreed, with Ethan Thompson expected to become Partizan’s newest signing.
Thompson and Carlik Jones previously spent one G League season together with the Windy City Bulls and now look set to reunite in Belgrade ⚫⚪… pic.twitter.com/EdlaBq7JTZ
NBA RUMOR MILL: Chris Paul role in Lakers Front Office gets update
After wrapping up his Hall of Fame career earlier this year, Chris Paul could return to the NBA very soon, but in a different role than the one we are used to, as he is being linked to the Los Angeles Lakers front office.
Following the surprise sale of the franchise, the legendary point guard is expected to land a job in Los Angeles due to his ties to new owner Bob Iger.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote that the recently retired Paul could land a role as he became close with Iger while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, and that their relationship has only strengthened over the years.
Ramona Shelburne previously identified Paul as a name to watch in the Lakers’ upcoming front-office plans following Iger and Josh Kushner’s takeover.
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.
