2026 Offseason Reviews
Archive for all posts reacting to 2026 offseason transactions.
The Growing Circumvention Problem
The NBA offseason is mostly done, but there are still several major topics hanging over Las Vegas. The biggest looming question is LeBron James’ next team. His decision will allow teams like the Cavaliers and Warriors to complete their offseasons and could open more avenues for free agents like Jonathan Kuminga.
Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics
Examining the Jaylen Brown Trade
There’s maybe no team’s salary cap situation more chronicled in Third Apron’s brief existence than the Celtics’. It was well known they would need to blow up a big chunk of their championship core right as they won the title. Just about everyone was on the table last year outside of Jayson Tatum in trades that would significantly reduce payroll and get them under the second apron.
Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers
Analyzing the Kawhi Leonard Trade
The 2026 NBA offseason is well underway, and it hasn’t disappointed. It started with the long-awaited Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, followed by the shocking LaMelo Ball trade. Now we have a third trade involving an All-Star, with Kawhi Leonard heading back to Toronto.
Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz
How the Lakers Utilized their Cap Space for Walker Kessler
One year ago, LeBron James exercised his $52 million player option. What was supposed to be a simple procedural decision came with an interesting message from his agent, Rich Paul:
Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets
Dissecting the Value of the Miles Bridges Trade + Expanding the Giannis Trade
2026 free agency hasn’t begun yet, but we’ve already seen a ton of movement on the trade market. So far, there have been five significant veteran trades. Two of them were dissected last week on Third Apron. None of these deals is official yet and likely won’t be until July 6 at the earliest. That gives each team more time to expand the deals and move mo…
Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets
Understanding the LaMelo Ball Trade
Last night, we received a surprising bit of news that the Hornets are listening to offers for LaMelo Ball. This comes off a career-best season in which he fueled the Hornets to a 50-win pace in the second half of the season. It seemed like they finally established their core and were set to build off it. According to Marc Stein, the
Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks
Unpacking the Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
It finally happened. After more than a year of speculation, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga is over. The Bucks are trading him and Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, the 13th overall pick in tonight’s draft, 2031 and 2033 unprotected first-round picks, a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-round pick. They essentially extracted everyone and everything of value from the Heat except Bam Adebayo and Pelle Larsson.