NBA Rumor Roundup: Randle Welcomes Nets Challenge, Bucks Keep Ware, Blazers’ Giannis Bid Detailed
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Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Portland headline the latest league chatter, with player movement and trade pursuits dominating discussions.
Nets: Randle Eager to Stay, Sharpe Set for Starting Role
Forward Julius Randle is reportedly enthusiastic about joining the Brooklyn Nets and does not see the franchise as a short-term rebuilding stop, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Randle arrives from a Minnesota Timberwolves squad that won 49 games last season.
The trade that delivered Randle to Brooklyn also sent center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls. Team officials felt comfortable parting with Claxton thanks to their growing confidence in center DayRon Sharpe, per the report. Sharpe, now the longest-tenured Net, is expected to open next season as the starting center after producing career highs of 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 60.1 percent in 2025-26.
Bucks: No Plans to Move Kel’el Ware or Kasparas Jakucionis
The Los Angeles Lakers have shown interest in rookie center Kel’el Ware, but Milwaukee intends to keep the 2024 first-round pick, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported. The organization was high on Ware during last year’s draft process and remains committed to his development.
Milwaukee also plans to retain guard Kasparas Jakucionis, another young player acquired from the Miami Heat in the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, according to Fischer.
Center Myles Turner, however, could surface as a trade target in the wake of the Antetokounmpo deal. Scotto noted that Turner has long understood a move was possible if Giannis were dealt. The Hornets, Pelicans and Lakers have previously been linked to the veteran big man, and Scotto added that the Celtics might also fit as a potential destination.
Trail Blazers: Details Emerge on Attempted Antetokounmpo Deal
Portland made an aggressive run at Giannis Antetokounmpo before stepping back, sources told Scotto. The Trail Blazers offered Milwaukee their 2028 and 2030 first-round pick swaps as part of a larger package, but negotiations stalled.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that Portland’s efforts cooled once Antetokounmpo indicated he would not sign a long-term extension in the Pacific Northwest. The Blazers remain active on the trade front and have been tied to Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown as they look to accelerate their climb in the Western Conference standings.
Source: Hoops Wire
