NBA Rumors: Celtics, Jayson Tatum, Nuggets, Jonas Valanciunas, Lakers, LeBron James

The Jayson Tatum NBA recruitment tour is in full swing. And this time, it’s aimed at a future Hall of Famer.

According to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, the Celtics’ All-Star forward has been actively recruiting Damian Lillard, who was waived and stretched by the Bucks earlier this month.

Both players are recovering from Achilles injuries suffered during this spring’s playoffs, but that hasn’t stopped Tatum from trying to plant the seeds for a future pairing.

Lillard, 34, may miss most or all of the 2025–26 season, yet the market remains strong for the nine-time All-Star. Multiple teams have expressed interest in locking him into a multiyear deal with an eye toward the 2026 playoffs and beyond. Boston is firmly in the mix.

It remains to be seen whether Lillard, who was vocal about landing in Miami a little more than a year ago, would be open to heading to Boston. But if Tatum has any say in it, this is one to monitor.

Nuggets Finalize Valanciunas Trade, Expect He’ll Play in NBA

The Nuggets officially acquired veteran center Jonas Valanciunas from the Kings in exchange for Dario Saric, as expected.

The trade, originally reported on July 1, looked simple on the surface. Denver gets a dependable backup to spell Nikola Jokic, while Sacramento creates some breathing room below the tax line by flipping Valanciunas’ $10.4 million salary for Saric’s $5.4 million expiring deal.

Then it got interesting.

Reports surfaced last week that Valanciunas had a lucrative three-year offer from Panathinaikos in Greece and was seriously considering it. That deal is still believed to be on the table, but according to multiple outlets, the Nuggets have made it clear they expect the 33-year-old to honor his NBA contract.

If Valanciunas intends to play overseas, he’ll need Denver’s cooperation. That includes negotiating a buyout and securing a FIBA letter of clearance. Otherwise, he remains contractually tied to the Nuggets and is expected to be in training camp this fall.

Denver has long admired Valanciunas as a physical, rebounding presence and continues to view him as an important piece of its frontcourt depth. For now, it appears both sides are preparing as if he’ll be in Denver when camp opens.

LeBron’s Future Continues to Fuel Speculation

LeBron James trade rumors aren’t going away, but the noise may be louder outside of Los Angeles than within.

In a piece for The Los Angeles Times, veteran columnist Bill Plaschke offered a familiar comparison: Kobe Bryant. Back in 2015, Bryant entered the final year of his contract and chose to announce that it would be his last season.

The result? A farewell tour that allowed fans, players, and the league to celebrate him on his way out, even as the Lakers endured a rough year.

Plaschke doesn’t believe James needs to retire now, but suggests Bryant’s approach offers a graceful model for how to close the book when that time comes.

For now, James remains unsigned, his free agency lingering in the background of the NBA summer. While social media has been flooded with speculation about potential trades or surprise destinations, all signs still point to a return to the Lakers.

As noted in my recent Hoops Wire column, the safe bet is that James suits up for L.A. next season. But unless he comes out and says something, the speculation machine will roll on.