NBA Intel: Domantas Sabonis, Michael Porter Jr, Pelicans trade talks; Raptors, Cavs

June 10, 2026, 1:11 p.m. ET

Amid the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, the other 28 teams around the league are focusing on the NBA Draft in two weeks, with trade winds beginning to swirl and free agency in the backdrop. 

With that in mind, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on Domantas Sabonis trade talks involving the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets, the future of Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., trade talks involving the New Orleans Pelicans trying to get into the lottery, why Gradey Dick and Sandro Mamukelashvili both could leave the Raptors, and why it’ll be hard for the Cleveland Cavaliers to retain Dean Wade in free agency. 

Domantas Sabonis trade talks 

The Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets had exploratory trade talks surrounding Domantas Sabonis, league sources told HoopsHype. One framework loosely kicked around included Charlotte’s Miles Bridges, Josh Green, and a potential first-round draft pick going to Sacramento in exchange for Sabonis, sources said. Charlotte has two first-round selections in the upcoming draft, including the 14th and 18th picks. However, Charlotte has been resistant to including one of those first-round picks thus far in a trade package involving Sabonis. 

Charlotte has considered a starting-caliber center upgrade, HoopsHype has learned, as the Hornets surged last season by winning 44 games, which marked a 25-win improvement, the largest win improvement in franchise history. Bridges ($22.83 million) and Green ($14.68 million) are on expiring contracts entering the 2026-27 season. 

It’s worth noting that when Sacramento’s general manager Scott Perry was an executive with the New York Knicks, the franchise considered drafting Bridges over Kevin Knox during the 2018 NBA Draft, league sources told HoopsHype. Perry and Bridges have Michigan ties as well.

Sabonis – a 30-year-old three-time All-Star, three-time rebounding champion, and two-time All-NBA selection – is owed $94.08 million over the next two seasons combined. Injuries limited the Lithuanian center to 19 games last season. However, Sabonis averaged 19.2 points on 60 percent shooting from the field and 39.6 percent from 3-point range, 13.3 rebounds, and 7.2 assists over the prior three seasons as one of the league’s top frontcourt players. 

Ahead of February’s trade deadline, the Toronto Raptors were notably interested in acquiring Sabonis. At the time, those trade talks included RJ Barrett and Ochai Agbaji potentially going to Sacramento, as previously reported by HoopsHype. Raptors center Jakob Poeltl and guard Immanuel Quickley were also discussed in separate iterations of trade packages with Barrett and Agbaji. However, Sacramento was resistant to acquiring Poeltl due to ongoing back issues while starting a $103.6 million extension, including $81.3 million guaranteed. Meanwhile, Toronto was concerned about giving up multiple first-round draft picks to move Poeltl to a potential third team, league sources said. Sacramento also resisted acquiring Quickley, who was in the second year of a five-year, $162.5 million contract. 

Michael Porter Jr.’s future 

Coming off the best offensive season of his career, which drew All-Star consideration, Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. is entering the final year of his contract worth $40.81 million. 

The 6-foot-10 forward is eligible for an extension this summer and is also being monitored as a potential trade candidate by teams around the league. 

Porter Jr., who turns 28 on June 29th, drew trade interest from teams, including the Golden State Warriors, as the deadline neared. The Warriors considered parting with a first-round pick for Porter Jr. hours before the deadline, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, Terance Mann was brought up in expanded discussions involving Porter Jr., but there were complications regarding his involvement, which would’ve necessitated a potential third team, HoopsHype has learned. Brooklyn also values Mann, who was a starter last season and is considered a strong veteran presence in their young locker room. 

With Porter Jr. entering the prime of his career and the Nets in the midst of a rebuild, executives across the league have always questioned if their timelines would fit beyond his current contract. If the Nets don’t agree to an extension with Porter Jr., teams around the league are expected to poke around on his trade availability. 

Will the Pelicans trade into the lottery again?

After trading into the lottery last year to select Derik Queen, the New Orleans are trying to trade into the lottery again in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, league sources told HoopsHype. The Pelicans are believed to be targeting a specific player in the top-10 range. 

While it’s unclear yet what the Pelicans are willing to trade to vault so high in the draft, below is what we know about their notable assets. 

Opposing teams across the league have primarily coveted Pelicans wings Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones on the trade market. Murphy III, a 38.2 percent career 3-point shooter, turns 26 later this month and has three years and $87 million remaining on his contract. He’s averaged 21.4 points the past two seasons and has also improved as a rebounder (5.4 per game) and playmaker (3.7 assists per game) in that span. Jones, 27, has been one of the league’s most coveted wing defenders and is owed $82.49 million through the next four seasons, including a player option for the 2029-30 season. 

Former first-round pick Yves Missi was also in various trade conversations leading up to the trade deadline. Missi drew significant trade interest at the time, including from the Pacers, Hawks, Celtics, Knicks, Bulls, Lakers, and Raptors, as previously reported by HoopsHype. Amid those trade talks, the Pelicans signaled they wanted a first-round pick to consider parting with Missi, league sources said. 

New Orleans also has Zion Williamson under contract for two seasons at $87.06 million, including a $44.89 million non-guaranteed salary for the 2027-28 season. However, Pelicans executive Joe Dumars has publicly stated on multiple occasions that he wants to keep Williamson. 

Dumars and Troy Weaver also have their own first-round picks from 2028-32 at their disposal to try and facilitate a trade into the lottery. In 2027, the Pelicans get the best first-round pick between their own and Milwaukee. If the lesser pick falls in the top four selections, the Pelicans also get it. If not, it goes to Atlanta. 

Meanwhile, as the Pelicans consider trading to add another young prospect, New Orleans has made additions to their coaching staff, front office, and scouting department. 

As previously first reported by HoopsHype, the Pelicans have added assistant coaches Dale Osbourne, Bret Brielmaier, and God Shammgod. In addition, Randy Gregory has also followed Mosley to New Orleans from Orlando. Mosley’s coaching staff is also expected to include Pelicans holdovers Greg Monroe, Jodie Meeks, Mike Hopkins, and Will Bynum, as previously reported by HoopsHype. 

Furthermore, the Pelicans announced Amanda Green as Executive Director of Strategy and Analytics, confirming a report by Shamit Dua. Lastly, former Syracuse guard Scoop Jardine announced on Instagram that he joined the Pelicans as a scout.  

Raptors free agency chatter and trade candidates

After making the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season, the Toronto Raptors enter the offseason near the luxury tax. 

Raptors stretch-five center Sandro Mamukelashvili is coming off the best season of his career at the most opportune time. The 27-year-old big man is expected to decline his $2.80 million player option and earn a significant pay raise as an unrestricted free agent this summer after playing the most games of his career (80) and averaging career-highs in points (11.2), field goal percentage (.523), rebounds (4.9), and minutes (21.9). Over the past two seasons, Mamukelashvili has shot 38.3 percent from beyond the arc, which has helped increase his value in the eyes of talent evaluators around the league. Thus, there’s an early belief that Mamukelashvili could command the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception or certainly a significant portion of it, with teams around the league wondering if he’ll cost too much for Toronto to retain if they want to remain below the luxury tax. 

Should the Raptors look to give themselves more cushion below the luxury tax, opposing executives point to former lottery pick Gradey Dick as a potential trade candidate. The 6-foot-7 swingman is owed $7.13 million next season and is coming off the worst season of his career, where he had a decreased role and averaged 6.0 points on 41.9 percent shooting from the field and 30.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 14.0 minutes per game.

Conversely, the former Kansas star was a full-time starter in 54 games during the 2024-25 season, averaging 14.4 points on 35.0 percent shooting from the field. At just 22 years old, teams around the league could look to him as a bounce-back candidate if he’s afforded more playing time. 

Overall, Toronto is expected to be active this summer, looking to improve the team. The Raptors can dangle their No. 19 pick in the draft and have had several starters in trade discussions last season, including RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl.

What’s next for Cavaliers free agent Dean Wade? 

With the Cleveland Cavaliers currently hovering near the second apron, forward Dean Wade could be hard to retain this summer as an unrestricted free agent, with several teams having the non-taxpayer mid-level exception available expected to be interested in him. 

Last season, Wade hoped to sign an extension with the Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype. Yet, despite unsuccessful talks and interest from other teams in trading for Wade, including the Houston Rockets before they signed Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency, the 6-foot-9 forward remained in Cleveland. 

Following his rookie season in Cleveland, the 29-year-old forward has emerged as a key rotation player who’s started nearly half of his games played (160 of 330) and shot nearly 37 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, Wade has shown the ability to guard both forward positions as well. 

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Blue Sky (@MikeAScotto). 

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