RealGM Basketball Wiretap

03 July 2026

• Branden Carlson, Blazers Agree To One-Year, $2.5M Deal

  Branden Carlson and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.

  Carlson spent the past season on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 42 games, Carlson averaged 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.6 minutes.

  Carlson, 7'0, went undrafted out of Utah in 2024.

• Nets, Blazers, Nuggets Not Heavily Engaged With Celtics On Jaylen Brown Trade

  The Boston Celtics may need to significantly lower their asking price for Jaylen Brown after several teams previously tied to the All-NBA wing have shown limited or no real engagement.

  Boston has been seeking up to four first-round picks in addition to players for Brown.

  The Portland Trail Blazers have been linked to Brown for some time, but their interest remains moderate at best and far below Boston's asking price. The Blazers' ability to match salary for Brown was also compromised by their trade on Monday for Ja Morant where they sent out Jerami Grant.

  The Denver Nuggets have considered the possibility of acquiring Brown but have not spoken with the Celtics since the weekend. Denver's interest has been significantly overstated, and the franchise lacks the draft capital to meet Boston's demands, sources added, noting the Nuggets likely would not be motivated to part with that level of assets even if they had them.

  The Brooklyn Nets, also previously connected to Brown, are not currently engaged with the Celtics and do not appear to be moving in that direction.

  With outside interest falling short of Boston's expectations, questions persist about the franchise's path forward. Should the Celtics ultimately keep Brown, significant relationship repair may be required given how the situation has unfolded this offseason.

  A reconciliation between Brown and the Celtics would likely prove difficult, but his eligibility for a two-year, $141.8 million contract extension in July could make that a possibility.

• Robert Williams III, Blazers Agree To Three-Year, $44M Deal

  Robert Williams III and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract that runs through the 2028-29 season. Williams' contract will be worth slightly less on an annual average basis than the midlevel exception of $15.1 million.

  Williams' deal is fully guaranteed at $14 million in Year 1, but just $5 million is guaranteed in Year 2, which will become fully guaranteed if he plays in 50 games during the upcoming season. The third year of his contract is fully non-guaranteed, but will become guaranteed if he plays 50 games during the 2027-28 season.

  Williams was expected to receive free agent interest from the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics amongst others.

  Williams has long been one of the NBA's better defensive centers, but he's struggled to stay consistently healthy.

  In 59 games last season with the Blazers, Williams averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 17.1 minutes with a PER of 22.1.

• Blazers Make Donovan Clingan Off Limits In Trade Talks, Intend To Keep Jrue Holiday

  The Portland Trail Blazers have made Donovan Clingan off limits in trade discussions, sources told Jason Quick of The Athletic.

  The decision comes after the team acquired Ja Morant on Monday. With Morant and Damian Lillard as the backcourt, the Blazers will need Clingan's rim protection.

  The Blazers also believe that Morant, Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday can coexist together.

  Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line also reported on Monday that Blazers intend to hold onto Holiday.

  The team is also not expected to retain Robert Williams III.

  Williams has been linked with the Lakers.

• Blazers Acquire Ja Morant From Grizzlies For Jerami Grant, Kris Murray

  The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.

  The Grizzlies had shopped Morant extensively as they look to completely move on from his era after also trading away Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.

  Morant is signed for the 2026-27 season for $42.2 million and for 2027-29 at $44.9 million. Morant signed a five-year, $197 million extension in July 2022.

  Morant appeared in just 20 games last season for the Grizzlies, averaging 19.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 28.4 minutes amid injuries and trade rumors. Morant was also suspended for one game in November of last season due to a heated confrontation with coach Tuomas Iisalo following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

  Morant will join a Portland team that will also add Damian Lillard back from his torn Achilles. The Blazers, who are under new ownership in Tom Dundon, hired Micah Nori as a first-time head coach. Portland also has Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson in their backcourt.

  The Blazers have been active in trade discussions this offseason and are reportedly in talks with the Boston Celtics on Jaylen Brown.

  Grant is signed at $34.2 million for the 2026-27 and he has a player option for the 2027-28 season at $37.2 million.

• Several Teams Have Shown Real Interest In Trading For Jaylen Brown

  The Boston Celtics tried to trade Jaylen Brown as part of a package for Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this offseason. With Antetokounmpo having been traded to the Miami Heat, several other rival teams have emerged as suitors for Brown.

  The Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors have all expressed interest in trading for the Celtics star.

  Charlotte's interest has backed off some. While Atlanta may be reluctant to make an all-in sort of offer for Brown.

  The Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic have also been linked to Boston's All-NBA wing in the past. However, none of those three teams seem to be seriously pursuing a trade for Brown at this time.

  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.

• Blazers Have Trade Interest In Jaylen Brown, Anthony Davis

  The Portland Trail Blazers have emerged with strong interest in trading for Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics.

  "The Trail Blazers are one of the few confirmed teams that we have as an active and aggressive team pursuing Jaylen Brown," said Jake Fischer on Friday.

  Portland had interest in Brown dating back to Damian Lillard's original tenure with the team.

  The Blazers control the first round picks of the Milwaukee Bucks 2028, 2029 and 2030, as well as the 2029 first round pick of the Celtics. Portland acquired all four picks in September 2023 when they first traded Lillard to the Bucks and then flipped Jrue Holiday to the Celtics.

  Portland previously attempted to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, but he communicated that he didn't have interest in signing long-term with the franchise. The Blazers could also pursue a trade for Anthony Davis this offseason as the Washington Wizards consider their options.

  The Blazers could offer a combination of draft capital, Jerami Grant's expiring contract as salary ballast, and young players such as Scoot Henderson and Sharron Sharpe.

  The Blazers recently hired Micah Nori as head coach.

• Micah Nori Hired By Blazers As Head Coach

  The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Micah Nori as head coach on a one-year deal with team options for Year 2 and Year 3. Nori has been the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves over the past five seasons.

  Nori has been a candidate for multiple head coaching jobs in recent seasons.

  The Blazers were searching for a new head coach following Chauncey Billups federal arrest last October. Tiago Splitter was interim head coach for the remainder of the season and exited the Blazers this offseason to become head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

  The Blazers reached the playoffs in 2026 for the first time since their trade of Damian Lillard.

  New York Knicks assistant coach Chris Jent and Boston Celtics assistant coach Tyler Lashbrook were the other finalists for the job.

• Blazers Interested In Re-Signing Robert Williams

  The Portland Trail Blazers have interest in re-signing center Robert Williams, sources told Dan Woike of The Athletic.

  Williams, who is an unrestricted free agent, averaged 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds on the year.

  The Lakers are also reportedly interested in Williams.

• Blazers Have 'Serious Interest' In Jaylen Brown Trade

  The Portland Trail Blazers have "serious interest" in acquiring Jaylen Brown if he is made available by the Boston Celtics, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic. If the Celtics agree to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, the Blazers would be in a unique position to insert themselves into the trade and acquire Brown as they control Milwaukee's first round pick in 2028, 2029 and 2030 via the 2023 Damian Lillard trade.

  Brown would feel an obvious need for the Blazers as a two-way All-NBA player on the wing.

  Brown is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but he is signed through the 2028-29 season and would give the Blazers some level of control over the situation.

  Brown appeared in 71 games last season, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 34.4 minutes in what was his best individual season of his career.