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: Lonnie Walker IV returns to NBA, signs with Denver Nuggets
Lonnie Walker IV is officially back in the NBA after agreeing to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Denver Nuggets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The 27-year-old guard returns to the league after spending the past season with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Walker signed a three-year deal with the Israeli club last summer but had an NBA exit clause in his contract, allowing him to return if the right opportunity arose. After attracting interest from multiple teams this offseason, he ultimately chose to join one of the NBA’s top championship contenders.
The former first-round pick enjoyed a productive campaign with Maccabi Tel Aviv, averaging 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 45 appearances while shooting an impressive 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Walker previously appeared in the NBA during the 2024-25 season, when he played 20 games for the Philadelphia 76ers after leaving Zalgiris. He averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Before his stint in Europe, Walker also played for the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets. Now entering his eighth NBA season, he is expected to provide valuable scoring and depth off the bench for Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Lonnie Walker IV has agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, agent George S. Langberg of @GSLSportsGroup told ESPN. Walker was with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague after last playing in the NBA in 2024-25 and now enters his 8th season in the league. pic.twitter.com/tvxQc2RRjz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 6, 2026
NBA MOVES & TRANSACTIONS: Dillon Brooks signs Suns extension, Clippers add Jalen Pickett
Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension with the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The new deal keeps the veteran forward in Phoenix through the 2029-30 season.
Brooks joined the Suns last offseason as part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade with the Houston Rockets and quickly became one of the team’s most important players. His defensive intensity and leadership helped Phoenix win 46 games and return to the NBA Playoffs.
The 29-year-old averaged 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 56 games while shooting 43.5% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc. Keeping Brooks was one of Phoenix’s top priorities this summer as the franchise continues to build around him and Devin Booker.
The extension is another significant move for the Suns during a busy offseason, after re-signing Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin, while also adding Miles Bridges via trade and Luke Kennard in free agency.
The Los Angeles Clippers have strengthened their backcourt by signing former Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett to a two-way contract. The move ends the 25-year-old guard’s free agency and gives him another opportunity to continue developing his NBA career.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Pickett agreed to join the Clippers after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Nuggets. He was selected 32nd overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and played exclusively for Denver since entering the league.
During his time with the Nuggets, Pickett appeared in 139 regular-season games and made 13 playoff appearances, including 22 starts. He averaged 4 points, 1.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Last season, Pickett played 52 games for Denver and showed his value as a reliable perimeter shooter, averaging 5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while connecting on 39 percent of his three-point attempts. With the Clippers, he will compete for a role in the backcourt and provide additional depth.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Jalen Pickett have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. The 26-year-old guard spent the past three seasons with the Denver Nuggets where he shot 39% from 3-point range. Pickett was the 32nd pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/Ns8SrsaMI4
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 5, 2026
NBA RUMOR MILL: Los Angeles Lakers remain interested in P.J. Washington reunion with Luka Doncic
P.J. Washington’s name is once again being linked with a potential move to the Los Angeles Lakers. The main reason behind the rumors is his strong chemistry with Luka Doncic during their time together with the Dallas Mavericks, when they reached the 2024 NBA Finals.
According to Sean Deveney, however, a trade between the Lakers and Mavericks would be difficult to complete. Washington’s four-year, $89 million contract represents the biggest obstacle, as his salary for the upcoming season is around $20 million.
To match salaries under NBA rules, the Lakers would likely have to include several players, with names such as Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Jaylen Hardy, and Jake LaRavia mentioned as possible pieces. A third team could also be needed to make the deal happen.
Washington had a strong season, averaging 14.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 56 games. Despite Doncic’s reported interest in reuniting with him, the Lakers will have to overcome significant financial and roster challenges to complete the trade.
Luka Dončić reportedly wants to reunite with P.J. Washington, per @SeanDeveney
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 5, 2026
(h/t @AmicoHoops ) pic.twitter.com/EqXw7j5YCD
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.
