Golden State Warriors — Seeking Young Players That Fit Culture & Near First-Round Pick Value Warriors’ Asking Price for Kuminga: The Warriors value Kuminga highly and want a return close to a first-round pick in value, reflecting his youth and upside. Preference for Young, Tough Players: Warriors like Ayo Dosunmu (25) for his energy and fit; though Williams is 26, he shares the Warriors’ culture traits: toughness, defensive versatility, and selflessness. Adding Frontcourt Depth: Nick Richards (center) and Grant Williams (versatile forward) help address Warriors’ need for reliable bigs and complementary role players. Draft Capital: The inclusion of multiple second-round picks with these players gets Golden State very close to the value of a late first-rounder, satisfying their asking price without forcing a first-round pick to move.

Phoenix Suns — Interest in Kuminga & Previous Offers Rejected Suns’ Desire for Kuminga: The Suns want to add young, athletic wings to boost their roster’s competitiveness. Kuminga fits this mold with a fresh 4-year contract via sign-and-trade. Previous Offers: Suns previously offered Grayson Allen to the Warriors for Kuminga, but the Warriors rejected it due to insufficient return. Willing to Include Young Players & Picks: Suns are ready to part with Nick Richards and Grayson Allen along with draft capital (second-round picks) to get Kuminga.

Charlotte Hornets — Need to Cut Down Roster & Acquire a Starting Center Roster Logjam: The Hornets have a bloated roster (around 18 players), exceeding the NBA’s 15-man limit, so shedding players is essential for roster compliance and financial flexibility. Starting Center Need: After trading Jusuf Nurkić, the Hornets lack a true starting-caliber center. Acquiring Nic Claxton (age 25) addresses this critical hole alongside LaMelo Ball (25), creating a young, athletic core. Grant Williams and DaQuan Jeffries: Trading out Grant Williams (26) and DaQuan Jeffries helps clear roster spots and salaries. Both are solid contributors but don’t fit the Hornets’ timeline as well as Claxton. Age & Core Alignment: Claxton fits perfectly with LaMelo and the young Hornets core, emphasizing youth, defense, and athleticism.

Brooklyn Nets — Getting Their Asking Price for Claxton Claxton’s Value and Market: Claxton is a young, starting-caliber center under a 4-year, $97M contract. The Nets demand high compensation, ideally multiple first-round picks plus young talent. Draft Capital & Young Talent: Nets receive two protected 2027 first-round picks (from Hornets) plus Grayson Allen and Nick Smith Jr., who are young, cost-controlled players useful for a rebuild. Salary & Roster Flexibility: Moving Claxton frees cap space and provides assets to retool their roster while maintaining competitive balance.