RealGM Basketball Wiretap

08 July 2026

• Clippers Believed To Be Only Team Beyond Nuggets Still In Mix For Peyton Watson

  Peyton Watson remains a restricted free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers believed to be the only team credibly in the mix beyond the incumbent Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have signaled their intent to match any offer sheet Watson should sign while also being open to a sign-and-trade scenario. However, the Nuggets' stated preference is to retain Watson.

  The Brooklyn Nets have enough cap space to pursue Watson, but they are only a "conceptual suitor" at this point.

  The Clippers signed Rui Hachimura to a two-year, $28 million deal on Monday, but it won't preclude them from also pursuing Watson.

  Watson emerged as one of Denver's most productive players last season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 54 games. Following Nikola Jokic's knee injury in late December, Watson posted a career-best 17-game stretch before suffering a hamstring strain in February that limited him for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

  Watson is represented by Rich Paul, who has had several restricted free agents go deep into the offseason before a resolution is reached such as Tristan Thompson and Eric Bledsoe.

• Nick Martinelli, Clippers Agree To Two-Way Contract

  The Los Angeles Clippers signed Nick Martinelli to a two-way deal on Monday, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  The Clippers selected Martinelli with the 55th pick out of Northwestern in this year's draft.

• Rui Hachimura, Clippers Agree To Two-Year, $28M Deal

  Rui Hachimura has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $28 million deal, reports ESPN's Shams Charania. The Clippers will use their mid-level exception to sign Hachimura, which leaves open the possibility of acquiring Peyton Watson via sign-and-trade.

  Hachimura earned $18.3 million last season and posted 17.5 points per game on 54.9% shooting, including 56.9% from three-point range, to go with 4.0 rebounds during the playoffs.

  Hachimura received interest from the San Antonio Spurs before they signed Tobias Harris. Hachimura had waited on a possible sign-and-trade involving the Lakers, but they ultimately didn't cooperate on a deal.

  According to Marc Stein, Hachimura prioritized remaining in Los Angeles and chose the Clippers over interest from the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks.

• Nuggets To Match Any Peyton Watson Offer Sheet, Open To Sign-And-Trade

  The Denver Nuggets plan to match any offer sheet for restricted free agent Peyton Watson once the NBA's moratorium ends Monday, but they are open to sign-and-trade scenarios if a deal cannot be reached.

  Talks between Denver and Watson's representation, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, have stalled on a new contract.

  The recent Walker Kessler saga with the Utah Jazz offers a useful parallel. Utah repeatedly stated its intent to match offers and avoid a sign-and-trade, only to ultimately send Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers for two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round swaps. Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers.

  Denver's preference, sources said, is to keep Watson, a fourth-year player selected 30th overall in the 2022 draft.

  Only the Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers currently hold the cap space needed to sign Watson to an offer sheet. The Clippers have shown real interest but are simultaneously handling their own restricted free agency matter involving Bennedict Mathurin. Multiple other teams have registered interest in a potential sign-and-trade.

  Speculation has circulated that Denver would look to shed salary and dodge the second tax apron. However, Nuggets ownership has not instructed the front office, run by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, to cut costs. That stance carries added weight given Denver's reported pursuit of unrestricted free agent LeBron James, who is also represented by Paul.

  Watson emerged as one of Denver's most productive players last season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 54 games. Following Nikola Jokic's knee injury in late December, Watson posted a career-best 17-game stretch before suffering a hamstring strain in February that limited him for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

  The Nuggets signed Christian Braun to a five-year, $125 million extension before the start of the season, but Watson emerged as the more essential member of the team from their 2022 draft class.

• Jordan Miller, Clippers Agree To Three-Year, $15.3M Deal

  Jordan Miller and the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a three-year, $15.3 million deal. Miller was a restricted free agent.

  Miller appeared in 60 games last season, averaging 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 22.1 minutes.

  The Clippers converted Miller from a two-way contract in February.

• Clippers Guarantee Kris Dunn; Push Back Guarantee Date For Cam Christie

  The LA Clippers have fully guaranteed the $5.7 million contract for guard Kris Dunn. The Clippers and Cam Christie agreed to amend the guarantee date for his $2.3 million contract. LA and Christie pushed that date back from June 30 to July 20.

  Dunn appeared in all 82 games (68 starts) for the Clippers last season. The veteran guard averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals. Dunn has become a consistent three-pointer shooter, in addition to being one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA.

• Kobe Sanders, Clippers Agree To Four-Year, $11.2M Deal

  Kobe Sanders and the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a four-year, $11.2 million deal in restricted free agency. The first two seasons are guaranteed and the third and fourth are non-guaranteed. Sanders is represented by Ramon Sessions.

  Sanders averaged 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.9 minutes across 68 games.

  The Clippers converted Sanders from a two-way contract to a standard NBA contract in February.

• Raptors Acquire Kawhi Leonard From Clippers For Brandon Ingram, Two First Rounders, One Swap

  The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers are finalizing a trade of Kawhi Leonard for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first round picks, one pick swap and two second rounders. The two first round picks are unprotected in 2031 and 2033 with the first round pick swap in 2027. The Raptors will send second round picks to the Clippers in 2030 and 2033.

  Leonard led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship and then left the franchise to sign with the Clippers.

  The Clippers had elected not to offer Leonard an extension this offseason, which led him to enter the trade market. Leonard signaled that the Raptors were the one team where he'd commit to a long-term extension.

  Leonard is coming off one of his strongest individual campaigns, averaging 27.9 points across 65 regular-season games. He earned All-NBA second team honors and placed seventh in MVP voting. The Clippers, however, finished 42-40 and were eliminated in the play-in tournament.

  Leonard will immediately become eligible to sign an extension worth up to $123.7 million over two seasons with Toronto.

  The Raptors were able to retain RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley as part of the trade as their preference was to instead include Ingram. Ingram signed a three-year, $120 million extension in February 2025 shortly after his trade from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Raptors. Ingram has two seasons remaining on the contract.

  After letting Paul George leave in free agency in 2024, the Clippers have now reset their roster by trading away James Harden, Ivica Zubac and now Leonard. The Clippers now have three incoming future first round picks as they also own the Indiana Pacers' 2029 first.

  Leonard was open to a trade back to the Raptors due to his familiarity with the front office now led by Bobby Webster, his fondness for the city of Toronto, and his belief that they can contend within the Eastern Conference.

  Leonard now envisions spending the remainder of his career with the Raptors.

• Raptors, Clippers Nearing Kawhi Leonard Trade With Brandon Ingram Likely Included

  The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers are nearing agreement on a Kawhi Leonard trade with the player portion of the deal mostly in place with Brandon Ingram the center piece going back in return. However, the two sides are continuing to negotiate future draft pick compensation to complete the trade.

  "This is lining up," said Brian Windhorst on Get Up on Tuesday morning. "This trade could happen today.

  "I think the Clippers and the Raptors have agreed on player compensation. I think it would be Brandon Ingram, based on from what I've been told, that would head to Los Angeles.

  "What they've been haggling over is the draft pick compensation. The Raptors have all of their forward first round picks. They have up to four to trade. Naturally, the Clippers would want multiple of those. Let's see if they can get this worked out.

  "The key part of this is that the Raptors are willing to offer Leonard an extension. And Leonard is willing to sign in Toronto.

  "What's interesting is that despite him coming off a brilliant season, the Clippers, I am told, are not willing to offer Kawhi Leonard a contract extension of any sort. There's not one on the table. He's not rejecting one to go with another."

  Ingram signed a three-year, $120 million extension in February 2025 shortly after his trade from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Raptors. Ingram has two seasons remaining on the contract.

  The Clippers will clear additional salary off their books with a Leonard for Ingram swap, which could give them more cap space to explore the free agent market.

• Clippers Haven't Pursued Trade With Celtics For Jaylen Brown

  The Los Angeles Clippers have not pursued a trade for Jaylen Brown as he has come onto the market by the Boston Celtics this offseason, sources tell The Stein Line. The Clippers have no plans to do so even after they complete their anticipated trade of Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.

  The Clippers have begun to remake their roster since the start of the calendar year as they'v traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland, plus Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin, the pick that became Keaton Wagler and an unprotected 2029 first rounder.

  The Clippers also plan on pursuing Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets in restricted free agency.

  Brown is eligible for a two-year, $141.8 million contract extension in July.

  Brown finished the 2024-25 season playing through a partially torn right meniscus that required offseason surgery that offseason. Brown recovered to have the best individual season of his career in 2025-26 as he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

  The Celtics have reportedly found Brown's trade interest to be lukewarm when engaging with teams across the NBA after initially offering him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Whether Brown wants to remain with the Celtics is an open question as he's reportedly frustrated with how the franchise has approached the offseason.