RealGM Basketball Wiretap

07 July 2026

• Khris Middleton, Wizards Agree To Three-Year, $17.6M Deal

  Khris Middleton has agreed to a three-year, $17.6 million deal with the Washington Wizards via a sign-and-trade with the Dallas Mavericks.

  Middleton spent parts of the past two seasons with the Wizards before he was traded to the Mavericks as part of the Anthony Davis deal.

  Middleton appeared in 63 games in his age-34 season, averaging 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 2.28 minutes.

  The sign-and-trade will be part of a six-team trade also featuring the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.

• David Vanterpool To Join Wizards Front Office; Adam Caporn Named As Lead Assistant

  Washington Wizards assistant coach David Vanterpool will join the team's front office, sources told Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

  Vanterpool, who joined the Wizards during the 2023-24 season, has been an assistant for 13 years.

  Adam Caporn was also announced as Brian Keefe's lead assistant for next season.

  Patrick Ewing will also join the coaching staff, with Steve Clifford hired as an advisor.

• Patrick Ewing, Steve Clifford Join Wizards Coaching Staff

  Patrick Ewing has joined the Washington Wizards coaching staff as an assistant to Brian Keefe, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN.

  Ewing was most recently in an Ambassador role for the Knicks.

  Steve Clifford also joined the Wizards staff as a coaching advisor.

  Clifford has held similar roles with the Suns and Nets in recent years.

• Warriors' Chances Of Signing LeBron James Appear Dependent On Trading For Anthony Davis

  The Golden State Warriors have faded as one of the favorites to possibly sign LeBron James in free agency as their case appears to be dependent on a possible trade with the Washington Wizards for Anthony Davis. The Warriors haven't gained any traction with the Wizards and appear to be preferring to keep Jimmy Butler, who would need to be included in a deal for Davis.

  While the thought of James teaming up with Stephen Curry has received widespread approval on the basketball side of the equation, they would not be considered legitimate title contenders based on the current state of the roster.

  "The Warriors, going into free agency, dreamt up a grand plan of Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James," said Shams Charania on Friday. "But the big domino with them is trying to get a player like an Anthony Davis, so you can bring in LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a package deal. Short of that, they're not really looked at right now at the top of this list, but things can change."

  Rich Paul, who represents both James and Davis, met with the Wizards last weekend to discuss the future of Davis with the franchise. The Wizards acquired Davis from the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline and he has yet to play a game for the team.

  The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat have been considered the other two most probable teams, but the Philadelphia 76es have emerged following their trade for Jaylen Brown.

• Lakers Trade Deandre Ayton To Wizards For Jaden Hardy, Two 2nd Rounders

  The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to trade Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second round picks.

  Ayton is on an $8.4 million contract for the 2026-27 season, while Hardy's deal is worth $6 million.

  Ayton appeared in 72 games with the Lakers, averaging 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 27.2 minutes.

  Hardy appeared in 57 total games last season with the Dallas Mavericks and Wizards, averaging 9.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 15.8 minutes. Hardy previously was teammates with Luka Doncic.

  The Lakers will look at options on the veteran's minimum to be backup center such as Jonas Valanciunas, Andre Drummond and Kevon Looney.

• Jamir Watkins, Wizards Agree To Two-Way Deal

  Jamir Watkins and the Washington Wizards have agreed to a two-way deal.

  Watkins averaged 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.6 minutes across 50 games with the Wizards last season. Watkins also appeared in nine G League games, averaging 13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals in 32.9 minutes.

  Watkins was the 43rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft out of Florida State and is represented by Drew Morrison and Sam Rose.

• Wizards Not Interested In Exploring Anthony Davis Trade

  The Washington Wizards are not interested in engaging with teams on a potential trade of Anthony Davis, a source tells Marc J. Spears of ESPN's Andscape.

  The Golden State Warriors were linked with trade interest in Davis this week, while the Portland Trail Blazers also were rumored to be lining up potential discussions over the weekend before they moved on to a Ja Morant deal.

  Rich Paul met with the Wizards on Sunday to discuss the future of Davis with the franchise ahead of a potential extension decision in August. Davis is eligible this offseason for a four-year extension worth up to $275 million.

  The Wizards acquired Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in February for expiring contracts and two first round picks. Davis has yet to play in a game for the Wizards, who signed Trae Young to a new four-year, $212 million deal.

  The Wizards also selected AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick in the draft.

• Warriors Focused On Signing LeBron James; Trade Talks With Wizards For Anthony Davis End

  The Golden State Warriors have not gained traction on a possible trade with the Washington Wizards for Anthony Davis. The Warriors are focusing on the possibility of simply signing LeBron James outright.

  Golden State created financial flexibility with Draymond Green declining his $27.7 million player option, but then signed Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million contract that complicates their ability to sign James. The Warriors would likely have to trade Moses Moody into another team's cap space to create enough space to sign James to the $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and also re-sign Green to a realistic number.

  "Right now, I'm taking the Anthony Davis thing off the front burner," said Brian Windhorst on Tuesday's episode of Get Up. "I do not have data that says that's likely to happen.

  "Now, my information could change, but I do not see traction from the Wizards to want to do that. The Warriors told Jimmy Butler they're not trading him. I think the focus right now is: Can they get LeBron James away from the Los Angeles Lakers? That's something they're going to try to get done today. Whether or not they can pull it off, let's wait and watch."

  Davis' agent, Rich Paul, met with the Wizards on Sunday to discuss his future with the team ahead of a potential extension decision in August.

• Wizards Interested In Russell Westbrook

  The Washington Wizards are showing interest in signing Russell Westbrook, sources told Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

  Westbrook averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.7 assists with the Wizards during the 2020-21 season.

  The Wizards most recently re-signed Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million deal.

• LeBron James, Anthony Davis Would Only Join Warriors As Part Of 'Package Deal'

  The Golden State Warriors are attempting to assemble a Big-4 of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Anthony Davis and LeBron James.

  The possibility for this scenario to occur has been facilitated by Green opting out of his $27.7 million contract to become a free agent.

  "A.D. and LeBron James would have to be a package deal in order to come to Golden State and team up with Green and Steph Curry," said Shams Charania on Sports Center.

  The Warriors would have to reach agreement with the Washington Wizards on a trade for Davis, sign James to the midlevel worth $15.1 million and then sign Green to a multi-year contract.

  ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on the Rich Eisen Show that the belief amongst some around the NBA is that Rich Paul, who represents Green, Davis and James, is trying to create leverage and that Davis is likely to remain with the Wizards, and James will remain with the Lakers.