The Detroit Pistons find themselves in a bit of a negotiation conundrum with their restricted free agent center, Jalen Duren. At just 22, Duren is eyeing a max-salary deal, but the Pistons aren't ready to commit to such a hefty contract just yet. Despite the gap in contract talks, Detroit remains keen on retaining Duren and isn't looking at sign-and-trade options as a solution.
As for the Los Angeles Lakers, while they've shown interest in the past, they aren't expected to make a move for Duren this offseason. Instead, their gaze has shifted towards the Hornets' big man, Naz Reid.
However, Charlotte appears content with keeping Reid after acquiring him through the LaMelo Ball trade. Meanwhile, the Hornets are reportedly open to trading veteran forward Miles Bridges, adding another layer of intrigue to their offseason plans.
Switching gears to the Clippers, it seems Kawhi Leonard isn't going anywhere. While the team is open to listening to offers, they've never signaled any real intent to trade the seven-time All-Star. Discussions with teams like the Warriors, Timberwolves, and Pistons have occurred, but none have gained significant momentum.
Over in Chicago, the Bulls have made a decisive move by exercising their $2.4 million team option on Leonard Miller. After averaging 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 27 games following his arrival from Minnesota, Miller has secured his spot for another season. The Bulls also picked up the option on Mouhamadou Gueye, who was later included in a trade with the Timberwolves for Nic Claxton.
Looking forward, the Bulls are eyeing free-agent forward John Collins as a potential addition. But they aren't the only ones; the Spurs and Sixers are also in the mix, setting the stage for an exciting free agency battle.
In Other News...
Bulls May Finally Have A Real Answer To Their Shooting Problem
The Bulls offseason planning is already taking shape well before 2026 free agency arrives, and the front office appears to have a clear priority: add more reliable shooting around a roster that has been searching for answers on that front. Mike Scotto of Hoops Hype reported Chicago is keeping an eye on veteran options, with Bryson Graham and the basketball ops group looking at ways to use cap flexibility to improve both the backcourt and the front line while staying under the salary cap.
Norman Powell has emerged as the kind of proven scoring presence that could change the look of the Bulls rotation, while Jock Landale is also on the radar as a more practical fit for Tiago Splitters system. Chicago is positioned to be active with real spending power, and the possibility of using a sizable offer for Powell or a room exception-type raise for Landale gives the team a path to add experience without waiting on a trade market to break its way. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Are Suddenly In The Hunt For A Coveted Young Wing
Chicago has been mentioned in the same breath as the Lakers in the market for young wing help, and that alone says something about how the Bulls are being viewed as a potential player in restricted free agency. Peyton Watson has surfaced as the kind of long, versatile forward teams keep circling when they think about upgrading the roster without locking themselves into the wrong long-term fit, and Chicago's projected cap space makes the idea more than a passing thought.
Denver, of course, is not expected to make this easy. The Nuggets are treating Watson like a core part of what comes next, and they are even looking at salary moves around the edges to preserve him, which is the clearest sign of his value in their plans. For the Bulls, the question is whether this is a real opening or just another case of a team doing its due diligence while a rival stands ready to keep the player in place. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Still Have A Chance To Change Everything This Summer
With the 2026 NBA Draft in the books and the league already shifting into its next phase, the Bulls are one of the teams worth watching closely. The top of the draft brought in names like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson, while the trade market has already been busy enough to reshape the summer landscape, with Giannis Antetokounmpo landing in Miami and players such as LaMelo Ball and Julius Randle changing teams as well. Chicago has not been standing still either, and its roster picture looks different enough now to make the next few weeks matter.
What gives the Bulls a real opening is flexibility. They have cap space to chase free agency and, after adding Nic Claxton in the Julius Randle deal without giving up anything significant, they still have room to keep pressing if the right opportunity comes along. Chicago can use that money to pursue a proven star, and with teams like the Brooklyn Nets also expected to be active, the Bulls are headed into a market where one aggressive move could change the direction of the summer fast. [Read more 🡒]