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: New massive salary cap circumvention allegations against Kawhi Leonard
A massive new allegation has added another layer to the ongoing Kawhi Leonard controversy, as the 35-year-old is now linked to a secret multi-million-dollar “sponsorship” agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers‘ scoreboard company, according to Pablo Torre.
The company Daktronics designed the famous “Halo Board” in the Clippers’ Intuit Dome arena.
The scoreboard company allegedly functioned as a secret channel to funnel millions of dollars from the Clippers to pay Leonard, but that money was not counted as part of the salary cap.
The Clippers paid $100 million to manufacture and build the Halo Board.
An anonymous longtime Daktronics employee told Torre that the company has never endorsed or posted celebrity advertisements as a business-to-business electronics manufacturer, which makes the Leonard sponsorship puzzling.
The emergence of a potential new scandal brings new developments around Leonard amid the ongoing Aspiration investigation.
The NBA has still not announced any punishment for Leonard or the Clippers over the alleged four-year, $28 million “no-show” deal.
Leonard’s trade to Toronto is also yet to be finalized, as both the Clippers and the Raptors have agreed to pause the deal due to the investigation.
BREAKING: Kawhi Leonard had a hidden, multimillion-dollar "sponsorship" with Clippers' scoreboard-maker, sources tell @PabloTorre.
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) August 7, 2026
"It was 1,000% a way to circumvent the salary cap," insider says.
In our investigation, Daktronics' Ballmer-linked crisis firm raises NBA probe ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LU1AeBAF44
NBA MOVES & TRANSACTIONS: Lonnie Walker joins Nuggets, Suns extend Dillon Brooks
The Phoenix Suns have secured one of their most important players for the long term, as Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension. The veteran forward joined the Suns last offseason as part of the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. He played 56 games last season and averaged 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.
Lonnie Walker is returning to the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, but his roster spot is not yet guaranteed. He has signed an Exhibit 9 contract and will join Denver for training camp. If the 27-year-old earns a spot on Denver’s roster, his deal would become a one-year veteran minimum contract.
NBA RUMOR MILL: Three teams emerge as a sign-and-trade options for Peyton Watson
The Denver Nuggets are still deciding on the fate of Peyton Watson. He is stuck in the offseason market as a restricted free agent, while the Nuggets are keeping the door open to send the forward to another team via a sign-and-trade deal.
Shams Charania revealed that they are in active talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers, who are offering combinations of player packages and picks.
There is also the option to retain him for another year via a $6.5 million qualifying offer
Shams on Peyton Watson:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) August 6, 2026
"They are in active trade talks with multiple teams on a Peyton Watson sign and trade. That includes Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the Clippers. There are combinations of player packages, pick packages as well. So either they're gonna trade him, or you could… pic.twitter.com/It0iLgdfpO
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.
OFF-COURT PULSE: Luka Doncic’s ex-fiancee seeks $50M
Luka Doncic’s legal battle over his daughters has taken another unexpected turn. His ex-fiancee, Anamaria Goltes, is taking the case to Slovenia according to TMZ, where she is seeking a $50 million settlement to clear the issue with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
This comes following recent news that she withdrew her child support case in the US.
However, that is not the end of it. According to TMZ, Goltes will seek to reduce Doncic’s parenting time with their daughters if no settlement is reached.
Primarily, she will request to cut Doncic’s visitation from two days a week down to only one day.
Doncic and Goltes ended their relationship shortly after getting engaged following years together. They share two daughters, 2-year-old Gabriela and 7-month-old Olivia.
