{"id":811833,"date":"2026-07-20T08:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T08:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/811833\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T08:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T08:14:15","slug":"nba-offseason-trade-free-agent-rumors-2026-stars-make-their-lebron-pitches-klay-thompson-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/811833\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Offseason Trade\/Free Agent Rumors 2026: Stars make their LeBron pitches, Klay Thompson available"},"content":{"rendered":"

While we saw a trade on Sunday,<\/a> it feels like NBA free agency is on pause waiting for LeBron James to make his free agency decision, which will come… eventually. Everyone \u2014 the front offices involved, other players, fans \u2014 is ready for LeBron to end his dragged-out free agency process, but he will do it on his own time. Until then, stars keep making their pitches, but other free agency rumors are flying around. Here are some of the latest.<\/p>\n

Harden, Edwards make LeBron pitches<\/p>\n

Among the most predictable, tedious, frankly clickbait things about LeBron\u2019s free agency has been players, coaches and front-office people from every team that might land him \u2014 and a few that haven\u2019t \u2014 being asked about him and asked to make their public pitches. The fact that 76ers owner Josh Harris had a quick, private conversation with LeBron<\/a> made news.<\/p>\n

If you care about such things, here are the latest from James Harden and Anthony Edwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the goal, that\u2019s the plan,\u201d – James Harden on a big 3 of him, Donovan Mitchell and LeBron James \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/YoDNaMgqp2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Lakers considering other trades<\/p>\n

The Lakers remade their roster this offseason to better fit around Luka Doncic this summer \u2014 LeBron is out, Walker Kessler and a group of new role players are in \u2014 but they may not be done, reports Sean Deveney of Heavy.com<\/a>, based on a conversation with a league executive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to moving contracts, the Lakers have found teams more receptive to take on Jake LaRavia\u2019s remaining $6 million for one year than the $25 million over two years for Jarred Vanderbilt. <\/p>\n

\u201cVanderbilt is a guy who has probably gotten a bad rap there because he has had injuries and has not fit in well and all of that,\u201d the exec said. \u201cHe can still play, just not at that number. (LaRavia) is a guy who you can ride when he is hot, but it gets tough when he is not. But he is tough, he plays every game, he hustles. You\u2019d like to see better defense but he hustles. And $6 million, most people would take what he gives you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is likely a training camp or in-season thing, but keep an eye on those two, particularly LaRavia.<\/p>\n

Dallas open to trading Klay Thompson, Gafford<\/p>\n

If it feels like Daniel Gafford has been available via trade for years, you\u2019re not far off, and the Mavericks are still listening to offers, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel Gafford, they\u2019re still fielding offers on him. We\u2019ve also discussed they\u2019d rather trade Klay Thompson rather than buy Klay out…<\/p>\n

\u201cI reported this on June 14th. Teams calling for Kyrie Irving are being told Kyrie\u2019s not available, but Gafford, Klay, and P.J. [Washington] are regarded as the most available of the Mavs vets…<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Daniel Gafford going to be on this team by season\u2019s end? It\u2019s not an answerable question at this point. We know he\u2019s available. Is someone going to put an offer together that interests the Mavs or are the Mavs going to keep holding out for a for a first round pick in exchange? Time will tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thompson, 36, is set to make $17.5 million in the final year of his deal. Thompson may be headed to the Hall of Fame someday but he is not that player now. He averaged 11.7 points per game, shot 38.3% from 3 but shot just 41.8% inside the arc, and is not the same defender he once was. While there might be teams interested in him in a reserve role, they don\u2019t want to pay his current salary.<\/p>\n