The Milwaukee Bucks are actively negotiating trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics leading the discussions as September 2026 begins [1, 2]. Giannis has expressed willingness to sign contract extensions if traded to either Miami or Boston [1].
Milwaukee remains unsatisfied with Miami’s current offers but has seen improvements with proposals that include draft picks and players like Tyler Herro [1]. The Celtics, meanwhile, face internal challenges. While interested, they are cautious about disrupting their strong core of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The team is also wary of involving player agents, complicating a potential trade [1]. Despite these concerns, the Celtics are still viewed by some as a significant contender to acquire Giannis after the Knicks ruled out pursuing him following their championship win [1, 2].
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks celebrated a milestone by winning their first NBA championship in 53 years by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Finals [1, 3, 2]. This ended decades of title drought but has shifted their offseason focus away from major trades.
The Los Angeles Lakers enter the offseason with nearly $50 million in salary cap space and three tradeable first-round draft picks, including No. 25 in the upcoming 2026 draft as well as picks in 2031 and 2033 [3]. They face key decisions with LeBron James entering free agency while remaining unsigned as of early September 2026. Questions swirl over whether he will re-sign with the Lakers or move to another team such as the Golden State Warriors [2].
Luka Dončić, who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game during the 2025-26 season, is healthy and cleared for offseason training after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained earlier that year [3].
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23, 2026, and will precede the full start of free agency [1, 2]. As teams finalize rosters and potential trades, the draft will be a critical component of offseason strategy.
With multiple franchises poised for significant moves, the next several months promise considerable roster changes across the league. Milwaukee’s pursuit of Giannis remains the focal point as other teams like the Lakers weigh their options with cap space, draft capital, and free-agent decisions.
