Luka Doncic

Rumor, via Martin Pavcnik of Sportklub in Slovenia: Luka Doncic is said to have agreed to a four-year, $229 million extension with the Lakers. Pavcnik quotes the Slovenian national-team coach saying he expects Doncic to report for EuroBasket after Aug. 4, when Doncic has completed his obligations in the U.S.

Doncic will become eligible to sign a larger extension Aug. 2, when his sixth-month post-trade restriction lifts. That'd be worth $222 million at the NBA's current 7% salary-cap-growth projection – though would be worth $229 million if the cap rises the maximum 10%.

I'm unsure how reliable this report is, particularly the specific contract details. But it's conceivable word of Doncic's plan could have spread around Slovenia first.

Doncic planning to extend with the Lakers would be unsurprising. Recruiting players like Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, Doncic is showing commitment to Los Angeles.

The most notable aspect of this report is the contract length – four years. There was thought Doncic would sign a 2+1 so he could re-up as soon as he'd be eligible for the 35% max with 10 years of service. If he locks in longer, even assuming a player option, that'd be a win for the Lakers.

Jonathan Kuminga

Jonathan Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, tweeted for the first time in more than two years to deny rejecting a $30 million-per-year offer from the Warriors:

"NO one on our side was turning down 30M a year. Our camp is smarter than that. Narrative makes no sense, twisted up Slater’s words I think! #Fakenews"

Before the season, Golden State offered Kuminga an extension "somewhere near the $30ish million per year range," according to Anthony Slater, then of The Athletic. So, apparently, Turner is contending it was a bit less.

That offer, whatever it was, isn't necessarily on the table now. Kuminga didn't excel last season, and now he's stuck in a tough restricted-free-agent market.

You can interpret what it means Turner tweeted for the first time in years (not counting a few retweets) to publicly frame the narrative about this negotiation.

Jonathan Kuminga

The Suns and Kings have made concrete offers to the Warriors in the last week for a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

Considering money and role, I bet Phoenix and Sacramento have made better offers to Kuminga than Golden State has. But neither Phoenix nor Sacramento has cap space, so it matters only so much. Another team must appease the Warriors, and that hasn't happened.

Kuminga is a restricted free agent. His market is warped. If his side is pointing to these Suns and Kings offers as proof Kuminga is worth more than Golden State is offering, it just doesn't work that way.

Jonathan Kuminga

The Warriors were optimistic about their most-recent pitch to Jonathan Kuminga, but he obviously didn't take it and is considering signing the qualifying offer, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Speaks to the divide.

Kuminga basically has to threaten to take his $7,976,830 qualifying offer. That's his main source of leverage. Kuminga taking his qualifying offer would be disastrous for Golden State. He'd hold the right to veto a trade this season then would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

But he'd also get less than $8 million guaranteed when there's more money on the table. So, it could be a bluff.

Cam Thomas

The Nets haven't offered restricted free agent Cam Thomas more than a two-year contract worth about $28 million with a team option, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said is his understanding.

That's nearly begging Thomas to sign his $5,993,172 qualifying offer.

Yes, he'd make about $8 million less next season. But he'd at least get to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. If he takes Brooklyn's reported offer, he'd be guaranteed no money beyond next season – and stuck at just $14 million in 2026-27 if he's worth more.

The offer is just enough that he must consider the security, but it's pretty underwhelming.

Josh Giddey

Of the four major restricted free agents – Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga, Bulls' Josh Giddey, 76ers' Quentin Grimes and Nets' Cam Thomas – Giddey and Chicago have the most strained situation, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. The Bulls are offering around $20 million annually while Giddey is seeking around $30 million, per Fischer.

Giddey going to Las Vegas for summer league but not attending Bulls games certainly looked pointed.

Fischer predicts Giddey will return to Chicago rather than get signed-and-traded – which maybe explains the acrimony. There's little to do but stare across the negotiating table and hope the other side changes its stance.

Scouting

Keith Smith of Spotrac spoke to a lot executives, coaches and scouts about their teams, in two parts. I generally dislike the volume of unnamed sources in NBA media, but I must also admit I enjoy all these less-filtered opinions from people within the league.

Jonathan Givony

Major NBA-media news: Jonathan Givony is leaving ESPN to return to DraftExpress. 

At least we'll still get Givony's first-class draft coverage somewhere. Hopefully, ESPN will hire a strong replacement, and we'll return to the days of great draft coverage at DraftExpress AND ESPN.

-Dan Feldman