Last Updated on September 4, 2026 8:07 pm by Keston Paul | Published: September 4, 2026

August felt a bit busier than normal for the free agency market, as we typically see a bit of a lull after the rush of July. Russell Westbrook chose to retire on his own terms, Peyton Watson joined the Cavs via sign-and-trade, DeMar DeRozan is now a Nugget, Bradley Beal rejoined the Clippers, Klay Thompson is giving the Heat floor-spacing, and the Pelicans finally made a splash, landing Bennedict Mathurin. Jonathan Kuminga is betting on himself as a Timberwolf and so much more happened. We also saw a lot of moves due to financial constraints and salary-cap gymnastics due to the aprons.

Players will be reporting to training camp later this month, but many players will already be participating in pre-training camp gatherings with teammates. At the time of writing, the biggest piece of news we are waiting for — free agency-wise at least — is the Jalen Duren battle vs. the Pistons in restricted free agency. At the moment, it is highly unlikely that we see him anywhere besides Detroit in 2026-27 and beyond, but there is always room for a surprise.

We have finally gotten a ruling on the salary-cap circumvention allegations against the Clippers, which, aren’t allegations anymore. The Kawhi Leonard trade should go through soon, sending Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick to the Clippers alongside two first-round picks (unprotected 2031 and 2033), a first-round pick swap (2027) and two second-rounders (2030 and 2033) if the original package is unchanged. We will see how that goes.

September should be quiet from this point onward, giving us some final resolutions, but there are still stories to look out for. Victor Oladipo is seeking an NBA comeback, while Ben Simmons has signed with the Kings! There is also sometimes a massive surprise trade out of nowhere around this time. Fingers crossed for some pre-preseason excitement!

Enjoy our 2026-27 Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide as well and let’s look forward to the new season that is just around the corner.

For up-to-the-minute updates on free agency, follow along on our NBA Blurb Feed by clicking here and filtering for Transactions only. (opens in new tab)

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First Week of September

Friday, September 4

Ben Simmons joining Kings on one-year, $3.5 million deal.

This isn’t surprising if you had been following rumors, as Simmons apparently had an impressive workout for the Kings last month. Charania noted that Simmons “had in-depth medical exams, an on-court workout and meetings with coach Doug Christie and other staffers” in Sacramento on Monday as well. Simmons had dealt with nerve issues in his back for multiple years before taking a hiatus from the NBA last season, during which he won the 2026 Walker’s Cay Blue Marlin Open in Bahamas with his Pro Sports Fishing team, the South Florida Sails. The last time we saw Simmons in the NBA in 2024-25, he averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks in 22.0 MPG across 51 games. His combination of assists, rebounds and defensive stats could be of interest for deep leagues if it seems like he can nail down a rotation spot during training camp and preseason. However, there is obviously a bit of unknown here after a year away from basketball, and Simmons isn’t worth considering in standard formats.

Presumably, Simmons has had enough time to get healthy and regain confidence in his body.

Other moves with less fantasy implications: Nets sign Grant Nelson on two-way contract

Thursday, September 3

Rockets and Amen Thompson reach agreement on five-year, $208 million extension. Thompson has been everything the Rockets hoped for and more so far in his career, establishing himself as one of the best and most versatile perimeter defenders in the NBA. Offensively, while he does have shooting limitations, he took a leap at the free-throw line from 68.4 percent in 2024-25 to 77.9 percent in 2025-26. He also took steps forward in points and assists, but with Fred VanVleet returning to health, it is unclear if Thompson will take a step back in those areas again to refocus on defense a bit more. Thompson is at the age where another leap could happen, but fantasy managers should always note his 3-point shooting issues when drafting him, and the FT% improvement isn’t guaranteed to stick either. Even with those flaws, the upside is tremendous, hence this extension number.

Wednesday, September 2

We got a ruling on the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers salary-cap circumvention saga.

• The Clippers are losing five first-round picks in 2029 (Pacers), 2030, 2031, 2032 and 2033.
• The Clippers/Steve Ballmer are being fined $30 million.
• Owner Steve Ballmer suspended for one year
• President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker suspended for one year
• President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank suspended for six months.

In addition, Kawhi Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson, has been banned by the NBA from business dealings for five years.

Leonard himself is subject to a $700,000 but will not face any further punishment (no suspension, no contract voiding).

The Leonard trade to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, , two first-round picks (unprotected 2031 and 2033), a first-round pick swap (2027) and two second-rounders (2030 and 2033) is expected to go through soon, assuming there aren’t any changed to the deal’s structure. Look out for that.

• Pistons fully guarantee Paul Reed’s $5.6 million for 2026-27. He should be Jalen Duren’s understudy whenever the Pistons get that done, making Reed an elite deep-league option and possibly even a fringe 12-team specialist due to his per-minute upside.
• Cavs sign their 2022 No. 39 pick Khalifa Diop to a four-year, $9.26 million deal with only the first year fully guaranteed. Diop spent the past three seasons with Liga ACB and EuroLeague club, Baskonia. He is a physically imposing, athletic and defense-first big whose only offensive skills consist of basic play-finishing. Don’t expect much, as even if he manages to break into a bench role, the fantasy profile doesn’t scream “upside.”

The Board

Notable remaining free agents (via Spotrac(opens in new tab)).
Don’t read into the order of names too much here.

• Jalen Duren (RFA)
• Cam Thomas
• Bruce Brown
• Gabe Vincent
• Ochai Agbaji
• Blake Wesley
• Cam Whitmore
• John Konchar
• Kelly Olynyk (veteran depth for locker room)
• Kevin Love (veteran depth for locker room)
• Victor Oladipo (seeking an NBA comeback)
• Lonzo Ball

Lay of the Land

Atlanta Hawks: Acquire Aaron Wiggins from Thunder for two second-round picks; Acquire Devin Carter and second-round from Kings for draft rights to Alpha Kaba; Re-sign Jock Landale for one year, $14 million; Acquire Lu Dort & Ryan Nembhard in trade (send out Zaccharie Risacher); Sign Jalen Wilson on two-way contract

Boston Celtics: Acquire Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks from Sixers for Jaylen Brown; Sign Mitchell Robinson for three years, $47.4 million; Sign Neemias Queta to four-year, $56 million extension; Re-sign Ron Harper Jr. for three years, $9 million; Sign Mike Conley to one-year deal; Re-sign Amari Williams; Sign Dillon Mitchell to two-way contract

Brooklyn Nets: Acquire Julius Randle from Wolves; Re-sign Day’Ron Sharpe to two-year, $20 million deal; Re-sign Josh Minott for two years, $9 million; Sign Keon Ellis for two years, $18 million; Sign Moritz Wagner for two years, $19 million; Re-sign Chaney Johnson on two-way qualifying offer; Sign Grant Nelson on two-way deal

Charlotte Hornets: Acquire Naz Reid, one first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and two second-round picks from Wolves for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green; Acquire Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a first-round pick from Suns for Miles Bridges, a first-round pick and a second-round pick; Acquire Dorian Finney-Smith and three second-round picks from Rockets; Re-sign Coby White for three years, $74 million; Receive Dennis Schröder & cash from Cavs for Tre Mann; Sign two-way contracts with Kylan Boswell and Michael Ajayi

Chicago Bulls: Acquire Nic Claxton from Nets; Sign Norman Powell for two years, $45 million; Re-sign Zach Collins for two years, $17 million; Sign Tobe Awaka and Jaylin Sellers to two-way contracts

Cleveland Cavaliers: Re-sign James Harden on multi-year deal; Extend Donovan Mitchell for four years, $273 million; Re-sign James Harden for three years, $97 million; Acquire Peyton Watson via sign-and-trade for four years, $88 million; Acquire Cam Whitmore in multi-team deal (waive Whitmore later); Re-sign Thomas Bryant for one year; Sign Ernest Udeh Jr. to two-way contract; Sign Mario Hezonja for one year, $2.8 million; Receive Tre Mann from Hornets for Dennis Schröder & cash (Mann traded away later); Sign Khalifa Diop for four years, $9.26 million (one year, $1.36 million guaranteed)

Dallas Mavericks: Acquire Santi Aldama from Grizzlies for AJ Johnson, first-round pick and two second-round picks; Sign Tobi Lawal to two-way contract; Marcus Sasser traded to Mavs (from Pistons) in six-team deal; Re-sign Moussa Cisse on two-year, $4.7 million deal; Acquire Zaccharie Risacher & send out Ryan Nembhard in three-team trade; Sign Jett Howard on two-way contract; Extend Naji Marshall for three years, $52.2 million

Denver Nuggets: Sign DeMar DeRozan for one year, $3.9 million; Sign Marvin Bagley to one-year deal; Re-sign Tyus Jones to one-year deal; Sign Alpha Diallo to one-year deal; Re-sign Spencer Jones for two years, $12 million; Sign Lonnie Walker IV to one-year contract; Acquire Julian Reese (expected to be waived), 2031 first-round pick, 2032 second-round pick in multi-team sign-and-trade of Peyton Watson to Cavs

Detroit Pistons: Acquire three second-round picks from Grizzlies for Isaiah Stewart; Acquire Isaiah Joe from Thunder for two second-round picks; Sign John Collins to three-year, $51 million deal; Re-sign Kevin Huerter for three years, $27 million; Re-sign Javonte Green for one-year, $3.9 million; Acquire Taurean Prince and Gary Harris from Bucks for Caris LeVert; Sign Ugonna Onyenso to two-way contract; Sign Elijah Harkless to two-way contract; Fully guarantee Paul Reed’s $5.6 million

Golden State Warriors: Re-signed Kristaps Porzingis for two years, $40 million; Re-signed Draymond Green for one year, $27.7 million; Re-sign Al Horford for two years, $14 million; Re-sign De’Anthony Melton for two years, $11 million; Re-sign Gary Payton II for one year, $3.9 million; Re-sign Charles Bassey on one-year deal; Sign Brandon Williams for one year, $2.6 million; Sign Georges Niang on vet minimum for one year; Sign Dalen Terry to a deal (likely training camp)

Houston Rockets: Extend Amen Thompson for five years, $208 million; Re-signed Tari Eason for five years, $81.5 million; Sign Marcus Smart for two years, $13 million; Sign Quadir Copeland to two-way contract; Trade Dorian Finney-Smith and three second-round picks to Hornets; Re-sign Jae’Sean Tate for one year, $3 million; Sign Oscar Tshiebwe to one-year deal; Re-sign Isaiah Crawford for four years, non-guaranteed $11.27 million; Sign Sean Pedulla on two-way contract; Sign undrafted rookie Rafael Castro to two-way contract & waive Tristen Newton

Indiana Pacers: Sign Kelly Oubre for two years, $17 million; Sign Larry Nance Jr. for one year, $4 million; Re-sign Kobe Brown on two-way contract; Fully guarantee Quenton Jackson’s $2.58 million for 2026-27; Re-sign Jalen Slawson to two-way contract

LA Clippers: Acquire Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, first-round pick swap and two second-round picks from Raptors for Kawhi Leonard; Sign Rui Hachimura for two years, $28 million; Re-sign Bradley Beal for two years, $13.2 million; Re-sign Kobe Sanders for four years, $11.2 million; Re-sign Jordan Miller for three years, $15.3 million; Sign Nick Martinelli to two-way contract; Acquire Max Strus in multi-team trade; Sign Jamarion Sharp to two-way contract; Acquire Johni Broome and a second-round pick from Sixers; Sign Jalen Pickett to two-way contract

Los Angeles Lakers: Acquire Walker Kessler from Jazz for two first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps; Acquire Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks for Deandre Ayton; Re-sign Austin Reaves for four years, $185 million; Sign Sandro Mamukelashvili for four years, $52 million; Sign Quentin Grimes for four years, $60 million; Sign Collin Sexton for two years, $19 million; Sign Kevon Looney for one year, $3.9 million; Re-sign Chris Manon to two-way contract; Sign Peter Suder and AK Okereke to two-way contracts; Sign Ziaire Williams on one-year, $3 million contract; Sign Matisse Thybulle on one-year, $3.3 million contract; Sign Arthur Kaluma to two-way contract (waive Peter Suder)

Memphis Grizzlies: Acquire Jerami Grant and Kris Murray from Blazers for Ja Morant; Acquire Isaiah Stewart from Pistons for three second-round picks; Acquire Quinten Post for three years, $30 million from Warriors via offer sheet; Acquire AJ Johnson, first-round pick and two second-round picks from Mavs for Santi Aldama; Acquire D’Angelo Russell from Wizards; Sign Carson Cooper to two-way contract

Miami Heat: Acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Bucks for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, two second-round picks; Sign Andrew Wiggins to three-year, $64 million extension; Sign Tim Hardaway Jr. to one-year deal for $6.5 million; Sign Klay Thompson for two years, nearly $13 million; Re-sign Simone Fontecchio to one-year deal; Sign Nick Richards on one-year deal; Vlad Goldin re-signs on two-way contract; Re-sign Keshad Johnson on two-way deal

Milwaukee Bucks: Acquire Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, two second-round picks from Heat for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis; Re-sign Ousmane Dieng for three years and $17.5 million; Acquire Caris LeVert from Pistons for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris; Re-sign Pete Nance to two-year deal; Sign Bogoljub Markovic to multi-year deal; Sign Rafael Castro and Kam Jones to two-way contracts; Gary Trent Jr. re-signs on four-year, $64 million contract

Minnesota Timberwolves: Acquire LaMelo Ball and Josh Green from Hornets for Naz Reid, one first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and two second-round picks; Acquire first-round pick from Nets for Julius Randle; Re-sign Ayo Dosunmu for five years, $112 million; Sign Jonathan Kuminga for two years, $13 million; Re-sign Bones Hyland; Re-sign Jaylen Clark to three-year, $10 million deal; Sign Trey Lyles to one-year deal; Re-sign Enrique Freeman to two-way contract; Acquire Cody Williams & John Konchar (waiving-and-stretching Konchar) from Jazz for Josh Green

New Orleans Pelicans: Sign Bennedict Mathurin for two years, $16 million; Re-sign DeAndre Jordan to one-year deal (later reported as two-year vet minimum deal); Sign Jaron Pierre Jr. to two-way contract; Sign Kobe Bufkin to one-year deal; Sign Christian Koloko to one-year deal; Sign Caleb Houstan to one-year deal; Sign Trendon Watford for one year, $2.9 million; Sign UDFA Malik Dia to two-way contract

New York Knicks: Re-sign Landry Shamet to four-year, $24 million deal; Re-sign Jose Alvarado for three years, over $14 million; Sign Andre Drummond for one year at $3.9 million; Re-sign Mohamed Diawara to multi-year contract; Re-sign Jordan Clarkson for one year, $3.9 million

Oklahoma City Thunder: Acquire two second-round picks from Hawks for Aaron Wiggins; Acquire two second-round picks from Pistons for Isaiah Joe; Re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein for three years, $75 million; Re-sign Kenrich Williams for one year, $5 million; Re-signed Brooks Barnhizer to two-way contract; Signed Otega Oweh and Josh Dix to two-way contracts; Acquire three-second picks from ATL/DAL in three-team deal relinquishing Lu Dort

Orlando Magic: Sign Nikola Vucevic for one year, $3.9 million; Re-sign Jonathan Isaac for one year; Re-sign Jevon Carter for one year, $3.5 million; Re-sign Colin Castleton to two-way contract; Sign Izaiyah Nelson to two-way contract; Sign Malaki Branham to a deal (likely training camp)

Philadelphia 76ers: Acquire Jaylen Brown from Celtics for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks; Sign LeBron James for two years, $8 million; Sign Dean Wade for four years, $39 million; Sign Anfernee Simons for two years, $12.3 million; Sign Ariel Hukporti for one year, $3.4 million; Expected to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (after buyout from Memphis); Sign Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love to two-way contracts

Phoenix Suns: Acquire Miles Bridges, a first-round pick and a second-round pick from Hornets for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a first-round pick; Re-sign Collin Gillespie for four years, $48 million; Re-sign Mark Williams for three years, $38 million; Re-sign Jordan Goodwin for three years, $19 million; Sign Luke Kennard to two-year, $13 million deal; Sign Pat Spencer to two-way contract; Re-sign Koby Brea to two-way contract; Re-sign Haywood Highsmith on one-year deal (after waiving him before)

Portland Trail Blazers: Acquire Ja Morant from Grizzlies for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray; Re-sign Robert Williams to three-year, $44 million deal; Sign Branden Carlson for one year, $2.5 million; Claim Micah Potter off waivers; Sign John Tonje to two-way contract; Sign Jeremy Sochan on one-year deal

Sacramento Kings: Acquire rights to Alpha Kaba from Hawks for Devin Carter and a second-round pick; Re-sign Precious Achiuwa for two years, $11.5 million; Re-sign Daeqwon Plowden for two years, $5.1 million; Sign Jonathan Mogbo and Adam Flagler to two-way contracts; Sign Ben Simmons for one year, $3.5 million

San Antonio Spurs: Re-sign Julian Champagnie for three years, $45 million; Sign Tobias Harris for two years, $31 million; Re-sign Harrison Barnes to one-year, $8 million deal; Re-sign Jordan McLaughlin to one-year, $3 million deal; Sign Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Maliq Brown and David Jones Garcia to two-way contracts; Sign Taelon Peter

Toronto Raptors: Acquire Kawhi Leonard from Clippers for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, first-round pick swap and two second-round picks; Sign Kyle Anderson to one-year, $3.9 million deal; Re-sign Alijah Martin to two-year, $4.8 million deal; Re-sign Chucky Hepburn to two-way contract; Sign Jaden Bradley to two-way contract; Sign Andre Jackson Jr. to one-year deal; Sign Trey Jemison to two-way contract

Utah Jazz: Acquire two first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps from Lakers for Walker Kessler; Re-sign Jusuf Nurkic to two-year, $22 million deal; Sign Josh Okogie to two-year, $12 million deal; Sign Jaxson Hayes to two-year, $12 million deal; Sign Tamar Bates, Trey Alexander and Mo Bamba to two-way contracts; Sign Terrell Brown Jr.; Acquire Josh Green from Wolves for Cody Williams & John Konchar

Washington Wizards: Re-sign Trae Young for four years, $212 million; Acquire Deandre Ayton from Lakers for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks; Acquire Khris Middleton via sign-and-trade; Acquire Tre Mann, second-round pick in multi-team trade & send out Julian Reese; Re-sign Jamir Watkins to two-way contract; Sign Felix Okpara to two-way contract; Sign Alondes Williams

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