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: Jalen Brunson hits the New York Knicks with a blunt reality check
Jalen Brunson is coming off a dream season in which he was one of the most instrumental figures in bringing the New York Knicks their first NBA title in 53 years, and he enters the new season with fresh ambitions.
Jalen Brunson celebrated his 30th birthday on Monday, and in an interview with the New York Post, he reflected on the incredible milestone, as well as how that achievement coincides with a transition phase in his life – enjoying what was, but above all else, figuring out how to move past it.
He explained that while fan affection following the NBA title win is clearly at an all-time high, the team must turn the page to get better.
“When people say those things, can we let it go in one ear and out the other? Can we focus on what we can do this year? Because last year is last year. It’s fair for people to bring it up and say, ‘Oh, that was great.’ But we move on. It can’t be in our mindset. It can’t be our focal point if we want to get better. That’s the question we have to ask ourselves. And if we can do that, we’ll be in a good place mentally. If not, we’ll be behind the eight ball”, he said.
His summer also included surgery on his left wrist to repair a tendon issue. Brunson reassured everyone that as training camp approaches, he is feeling good.
However, he also shared his thoughts on his future and career longevity, emphasizing that he does not plan to play once he is no longer in his prime.
“I don’t think I’ll play until the wheels fall off. But one thing I want to figure out as I get older is when I’ll be smart enough to recognize that my role is changing. That will dictate the end of my career. It’s about knowing where you’re at and not letting ego take over. I know what I’m capable of doing. But how long will I be capable of doing it?” Jalen Brunson added.
AROUND THE NBA: Fired Bulls VP’s Tyrese Haliburton draft blunder
In just a few NBA seasons, Tyrese Haliburton has proven to be a top-tier leader and a player who can guide his team to the NBA Finals as a primary option, which he accomplished with the Indiana Pacers.
However, ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft – when the Sacramento Kings selected him as the 12th overall pick – Tyrese Haliburton was not viewed that way by every team, including the Chicago Bulls and their former Executive Vice President, Arturas Karnisovas.
One of his biggest moves at the start of his Chicago tenure was selecting Patrick Williams with the No. 4 overall pick in that same Draft.
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, multiple scouts and the majority of the Bulls’ draft room preferred Tyrese Haliburton, but Karnisovas remained fixated on Williams.
Supposedly, he did not even consider Haliburton a serious option, believing the future All-Star would not rank among the four most talented players on the Bulls’ roster at the time.
NBA RUMOR MILL: Lakers looking to offload Knecht, Cavaliers active in European market
Third-year forward Dalton Knecht appears to be the most likely player to be traded by the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the upcoming season.
According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, Lakers are on the market, and there is a possibility that Knecht starts 2026/27 season playing for some other team.
Knecht has been fequently mentioned as a potential trade piece since his rookie season. He was involved in a rescinded trade for Mark Williams at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.
Knecht is coming off a campaign in which he averaged 4.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in around 10 minutes per game. He is on a $4.2 million salary for 2026/27 season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to shop in the European market, and the latest in a line of players who could arrive is Senegalese center Khalifa Diop, currently a member of Baskonia, according to El Correo.
Diop arrived at Baskonia in 2022, but his stint did not develop as expected. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds last season – numbers that reflect a limited role and slow development.
The Cleveland Cavaliers know him well. They selected him with the 39th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and have held his rights ever since.
Due to the limited cap space remaining, they are trying to find cost-effective player profiles, and Diop fits perfectly into that category. According to the Spanish outlet, he would earn $1.5 million.
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.
